Since the lifting of lockdown restrictions in July, the Students’ Union has been monitoring the guidance and industry best practice around managing the risk of COVID-19 within venues and can today announce our current plans for re-opening in September.
Since the lifting of lockdown restrictions in July, the Students’ Union has been monitoring the guidance and industry best practice around managing the risk of COVID-19 within venues and can today announce our current plans for re-opening in September.
Union Venue
Our 1440 capacity venue plays host to our twice a week club nights and has featured artists including Nathan Dawe, Becky Hill and Big Narstie. In line with current government advice, we’ll require anyone attending the venue to have had two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine – your second dose will need to have been received 14 whole days before attending the venue (not including the day you haad your final dose).
Primarily, we’ll be relying on the use of the NHS Covid Pass (available within the NHS app) as proof of vaccine. For international students, in line with current government policy, we will also be accepting USA (CDC card) and EU (EU Digital COVID certificate) vaccine certificates. We’ll continue to monitor updates from the government regarding additional certification that is acceptable outside of these regions and will update our guidance as appropriate.
We know that this will be disappointing to some individuals, especially those who have yet to have their first dose or those who are nationals outside of the regions above, but we need to all play our part in keeping campus safe and we believe that the safest way of opening the venue is by taking this approach. We will continue to monitor the situation and are open to scaling back this requirement as the risk from COVID-19 recedes or government policy changes.
Medicine and The Packhorse
But not having the vaccine doesn’t mean that you can’t attend any events. Our pub, The Packhorse, and our smaller on-campus venue, Medicine, will both be operating as standard. That means you can head to either venue without having to prove your vaccination status.
Both venues will be operating a hybrid service model where you’ll be able to order drinks either from the bar or from our app while seated at a table. We’ll also be throwing in a load of special offers, live entertainment and more.
How to get a vaccine
If you are based in the UK and 18 years old or over, you can book a COVID-19 vaccine via the NHS website or you can visit your local walk-in centre. For 16 and 17-year-olds in England, your age group is now eligible for vaccination and you should be contacted by your local GP with more details and you will be able to visit walk-in centres from next week – although you won’t currently be able to book via the NHS website.
Here’s a list of local walk-in clinics that 18-year-olds can visit for your first Pfizer vaccine or a second dose of Pfizer vaccine eight weeks after your first dose:
Tuesday 10 August
- 09:30-13:00 and 14:30-19:00 @ Unit 50-51 (next to old Debenhams), Walton, KT12 1GH
Wednesday 11 August
- 08:30-13:00 @ Chertsey Hall, Heriot Road, Chertsey KT16 9DR
- 08:30- 13:00 and 14:30 -18:00 @ Unit 50-51 (next to old Debenhams), Walton, KT12 1GH
Thursday 12 August
- 08:30-13:00 @ Chertsey Hall, Heriot Road, Chertsey KT16 9DR
- 09:30-13:00 and 14:30- 19:00 @ Hythe Community Centre, Staines, TW18 3HD
Friday 13 August
- 08:30-13:00 @ Chertsey Hall, Heriot Road, Chertsey KT16 9DR
- 08:30-13:00 and 14:30-19:00 @ McLaren Centre Victoria Gate, Woking GU21 6JD
Saturday 14 August
- 09:30-13:00 and 14:30- 19:00 @ Chertsey Hall, Heriot Road, Chertsey KT16 9DR
- 08:30-13:00 @ Unit 50-51 (next to old Debenhams), Walton, KT12 1GH
- 08:30-13:00 and 14:30- 18:00 @ McLaren Centre Victoria Gate, Woking GU21 6JD
Sunday 15 August
- 08:30-13:00 and 14:30- 18:00 @ Hythe Community Centre, Staines, TW18 3HD
- 09:30-13:00 and 14:30-19:00 @ McLaren Centre Victoria Gate, Woking GU21 6JD