From Wednesday 15th December, subject to parliamentary approval, late night venues such as nightclubs will be required to check the vaccination status of all customers aged 18 and over.

Any indoor venue that has a dancefloor or is open between 1am-5am will be affected. The rules also apply to large scale outdoor events such as concerts, festivals, and football matches.

Anyone aged 18 or over, who cannot show proof of Covid-status will be denied entry.

The government has stated that although checks are not mandatory for workers, organisations should take reasonable steps to ensure the safety of staff and customers.

Alan Price, CEO of BrightHR said: “While there is not set rule in place venue managers are strongly advised to deny entry to any worker who fails to provide proof of vaccination/exemption or a recent Covid test. In practice, this means checking that the proof they have is valid.

“Employers need to make sure that their staff are up to date on these latest changes and ask for a copy of their NHS Covid Pass or international equivalent if applicable.

“If you have staff that are unvaccinated, they should be reminded to take a Covid test, no later than 48 hours before the start of their shift. Creating a system where staff can regularly update you on their recent results may streamline the process, whether this is asking for notice via text or an email from NHS Test and Trace.

“Workers who can’t provide proof of vaccination or a recent test can be sent home with no pay, since they are not making themselves ready and available for work. It’s wise to make them aware that immediate unpaid leave will be enforced for those who don’t comply.

“However, reasonable adjustments should be made for those who are exempt from vaccination and testing.

“Whilst workers may be unwilling or unable to get the Covid vaccine for varying reasons such as pregnancy or religion, it’s unlikely that many will have reasonable grounds for refusing testing. As such, a request to provide proof of a negative Covid test can be treated as a reasonable management instruction.”