17th May 2021 Covid-19 Restriction Easing 

 

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport has confirmed that all amusement and gaming machines can be used from the 17th

 

The government department responded to the UK amusement trade body BACTA's request for clarification stating “I am writing to confirm that there is no coronavirus-related law or government guidance requiring amusement machines in pubs in England to be switched off from Step 3 of the government’s Roadmap (no earlier than 17 May 2021).”

 

All machines can be provided for use provided that risks are mitigated. We are advising our customers to follow the same advice given following the restriction easing on the 4th July:

 

Fruit Machines & Quiz Machines

• Machines should be located away from pinch points.

• A stool can be used to provide seating, both satisfying the requirement to remain seated where possible and this will hopefully discourage others from standing at the machines. Players will be facing away from other customers and will be stationary.

 

Pool Tables

• Customers should be advised and signage should be displayed, instructing players to remain seated until it is their turn to play.

• Pool cues should be retained by the venue (ordinarily behind the bar) with customers given separate cues. A deposit system may be favourable to ensure that cues are returned after use where they can then be cleaned before use by another customer.

 

Music & Jukeboxes

The government guidance sets out that live music should not take place.

All venues should ensure that steps are taken to avoid people needing to unduly raise their voices to each other. This includes, but is not limited to, refraining from playing music or broadcasts that may encourage shouting, including if played at a volume that makes normal conversation difficult. This is because of the potential increased risk of transmission, particularly from aerosol transmission.

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• Music played should be at a low level.

• Staff should be made aware that the jukebox volume levels must not be increased.

• Signage by the jukebox making customers aware that the volume cannot be increased due to the increased risks associated with shouting or raising voices will hopefully minimise customers asking bar staff to increase the music volume.

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We have produced the following posters to aid our customers

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Some local authorities have been saying amusement machines cannot be switched on in pubs from May 17th. This is not true. DCMS clarifies the matter. It refers to our covid secure guidelines on managing machines in pubs agreed with UK Hospitality and the British Beer and Pub Association. These have not changed since last Summer. UK Hospitality has now included a Question and Answer in their official guidance (page 15) that makes it clear that machines can be switched on. Click Here to view the page.

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4th November 2020 Covid-19 Restrictions

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As we enter a second national lockdown, Invicta Amusements have followed the same 'Lockdown' procedure that we implemented in March.

 

As soon as further guidance becomes available we'll update this page further. It is our intention to following the same re-opening procedure that took place on the 4th July. This information can be reviewed below, you'll find printable posters to provide guidance to customers on the use of machines. If you would like us to provide printed copies please contact us with your requirements.

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Our office remains open Monday - Friday 09:30 - 17:30 With a voicemail service outside of these hours which is monitored 365 days a year from 08:00 - 22:00. 

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4th July 2020 Covid-19 Restriction Easing 

 

Dear Customer,

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I am sure you are as relieved as we are that the government has published the first wave of guidance on tourism and the visitor economy that if followed, will allow the wider sector to open from 4 July 2020.

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For pubs, the emphasis was primarily on key elements such as social distancing, keeping temporary records of customers, deep cleaning procedures and toilet management, but amusement and gaming machines were not directly included in the 43-page document, save only that customers are to remain seated where possible.

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Following the guidance release, the Amusement and UK Hospitality trade bodies have come together on the matter of machines to draw up a ‘collective view’ that ‘‘with proper risk assessments in place, written and owned by the pub, there is no reason why customers should not be permitted to play machines or to play pool”.

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We have reviewed the industry and government guidance and set out the recommendations that we believe satisfy the government requirements and most importantly will help stem the spread of the disease.

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Facilities should be available to allow players to clean their hands before and after use. Signage instructing customers along the lines of ‘Please clean/disinfect your hands before & after use to help stop the spread of Covid-19’ should be displayed and of course, increase cleaning protocols with machines wiped down as with other surfaces after use.

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Fruit Machines & Quiz Machines

• Machines should be located away from pinch points.

• A stool can be used to provide seating, both satisfying the requirement to remain seated where possible and this will hopefully discourage others from standing at the machines. Players will be facing away from other customers and will be stationary.

 

Pool Tables

• Customers should be advised and signage should be displayed, instructing players to remain seated until it is their turn to play. 

• Pool cues should be retained by the venue (ordinarily behind the bar) with customers given separate cues. A deposit system may be favourable to ensure that cues are returned after use where they can then be cleaned before use by another customer.

 

Music & Jukeboxes

The government guidance sets out that live music should not take place.

All venues should ensure that steps are taken to avoid people needing to unduly raise their voices to each other. This includes, but is not limited to, refraining from playing music or broadcasts that may encourage shouting, including if played at a volume that makes normal conversation difficult. This is because of the potential increased risk of transmission, particularly from aerosol transmission.

​

• Music played should be at a low level.

• Staff should be made aware that the jukebox volume levels must not be increased.

• Signage by the jukebox making customers aware that the volume cannot be increased due to the increased risks associated with shouting or raising voices will hopefully minimise customers asking bar staff to increase the music volume.

 

As of Monday 29th June, we will begin the process of visiting the sites where we emptied our equipment and left the machines visibly open. We will return the floats and ensure that the equipment is ready for use on 4th July.

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20th March Covid-19 Enforced Closure

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Due to governments announcement on Friday 20th March requiring all leisure businesses to remain closed until further notice we have taken the following steps to support and protect yours and our business:

 

• ​All customers who pay us any form of rental or contributions towards, gaming content,  music subscriptions etc. will have all charges suspended as of 20/03/20.

 

• We would advise any customer with equipment on rental with keys to empty the machine and leave the equipment visibly open to reduce the chance of break-ins.

 

• I have asked all staff to return to work as normal on Monday 23rd March to start the process of visiting all sites where we would normally empty the machines to carry out collections and remove the floats to be held securely.

 

A large proportion of our equipment is subject to content subscriptions and finance payments that will still be charged to ourselves during this period. I would, therefore, ask any customers with outstanding balances on their accounts to make payments where possible and do whatever they can do to help with our cash flow.

 

​I am in full support of all the governments' decisions, although difficult if we can restrict the movement of this pandemic as much as possible we will be able to return to normal much sooner. Hopefully within a few months.

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Once we have completed the process of emptying the equipment it is my intention to remain at work in isolation working on a number of projects that I would never normally have the opportunity to complete. If you need to contact me the normal telephone lines will still be monitored as usual with a voicemail service with calls returned for when I am out of the office.

 

I wish all of you, your families, friends, colleagues and customers the best of health and hope to work with you all again very soon.