COVID-19 and our services

This page explains how COVID-19 will impact on the service that you receive from the Haringey Registration and Citizenship Service including Haringey Register Office.

From 19 July 2021 social distancing becomes a personal choice but one that we strongly recommend those not in the same household observe. Most ceremony venues will be arranged with no social distancing if filled to capacity, it is important to have a good dialogue with your guests and respect their wishes when setting your upper guest limit.

Please also respect other measures put in place to protect people, for example not closing windows and doors open for ventilation, not changing room layouts, continuing to sanitise hands and continuing to wear face coverings particularly when social distancing is hard to do or if a person feels uncomfortable if you do not have a mask on. We strongly recommend that people take lateral flow tests and that those that are unwell stay home and get tested.

Respect the wishes of others and take responsibility for keeping yourself and those around you safe

People attending appointments and ceremonies are strongly encouraged to wear face coverings unless exempt, and everyone should have a free lateral flow test the day before or on the day of the appointment or ceremony.

Please also see the coronavirus guidance on GOV.UK (external link) for the latest government updates on the pandemic.

• For all customers, visitors and guests
• Weddings and Civil Partnerships
• Death registration
• Birth registration
• Citizenship ceremonies
• Certificates
• General enquiries and more information

For all customers, visitors and guests

Lateral flow COVID-19 testing

Every person attending George Meehan House or other venue is strongly encouraged to take a free COVID-19 lateral flow test the day before or on the day of their visit. This includes guests and photographers attending a wedding or civil partnership ceremony. Regular testing protects you and others. To find out more and to arrange a free NHS test please visit the NHS website (external link)

Social distancing

Social distancing continues to play an important part in how we deliver COVID-19 secure services, where you can make space for others.

It is advised that we all keep at least 1 metre from others who are not in our household or support bubble. Our ceremony rooms have been arranged to allow for personal choice and for couples to decide up to our maximum limits the maximum number of people that is right to meet the wishes and concerns of their guests attending.

Face coverings

Please wear face masks covering the nose and mouth at all times when inside our buildings. This is unless a person has a valid exemption.

Hand sanitiser

Every person entering George Meehan House or another venue is required to sanitise their hands on entering our buildings. We also recommend sanitising your hands after handling shared items and when leaving a building. Please carry hand sanitiser with you.

NHS Test and Trace

Please download the official NHS contact tracing app for England and Wales at the NHS website (external link). Use the app to check in when attending George Meehan House or another venue. Please advise those coming with you to download the app too. A manual option to check-in is also available. If having a ceremony please complete a guest list for all those attending to help with test and trace should it be needed.

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Weddings and Civil Partnerships

The ceremony offer

We are following current government guidance to complete ceremonies within a reasonable period of time, but couples can play their own music and do things like walk down the aisle. To find out what this means for your ceremony visit the Marriages and Civil Partnerships page.

More information can be found on GOV.UK:

• COVID-19: Wedding and civil partnership ceremonies, receptions and celebrations (external link)

Local Haringey restrictions such as social distancing and wearing a face covering may remain in place, even if not required by law.

Guest numbers

Maximum numbers are now determined by risk assessments and room sizes, there is no upper limit set by law. Numbers below from 19 July 2021

• The Earlham Room is now limited to a maximum of 20 people (14 people if you wish to social distance) + up to two additional photographers
• The Woodside Room seats up to 79 people (60 people maximum suggested to allow some guests who may wish to social distance to do so) 47 people if you wish to exercise one-metre+ social distancing and 32 people at 2-metre social distancing
• All numbers include everybody present including the couple, but you may in addition have two roaming photographers or videographers
• Guest list templates can be found on the Marriages and Civil Partnerships page

From 21 June onwards, whilst there is no longer a legal limit to the number of people who can attend a ceremony, actual numbers allowed will be determined by room size, risk assessments, any Haringey local restrictions and the need for social distancing.

Guest numbers at other venues

Guest numbers at other approved venues are determined by COVID-19 risk assessments, room sizes and the need to allow people to social distance. We will be asking venues to make a commitment to providing a COVID-19-secure environment for every person attending a venue. Venues can download our  COVID-19 Secure Ceremony Commitment form (PDF, 47KB) to send to us. We will need this form back from venues before we attend a ceremony.

The government roadmap

To find out more about the government's approach to easing lockdown restrictions, see the roadmap out of lockdown - GOV.UK (external link). 

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Death registration

During the pandemic deaths will continue to be registered by phone, there is no need to register a death in person.

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Birth registration

Births can only be registered face to face.

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Citizenship ceremonies

Social distanced group citizenship ceremonies are taking place each week (normally on a Friday morning at 10.30am and sometimes at 12.00 midday)

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Certificates

Please order certificates online, there is currently no counter service.

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General enquiries and more information

Please visit the relevant parts of our births, deaths and marriages pages and the GOV.UK website (external link)

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