FIRST TO QUENCH YOUR THIRST
Owner of beach bar fined £1k for opening early vows to be first to serve drinks again in resort from Monday
THE owner of a beach bar who was handed a Covid regulation notice when he opened a week ago says he will be the first to serve drinks again in Cleethorpes.
Kash Pungi is gearing up to reopen The Beach Bar on Monday April 12, this time alongside other pubs, restaurants and cafes when the latest lockdown restrictions lift for service outdoors.
And he is also launching a new takeaway venture, called Just, based at the former Legends nightclub. Mr Pungi controversially opened his outdoor bar and ran a click and collect service which he said made him an exception to the lockdown restrictions.
He was so popular, people queued for 40 minutes for a drink.
But North East Lincolnshire Council insisted he was in breach and served him a notice to close. After defying the order, he was served with a £1,000 fine.
Since closing, the businessman applied to have chairs and tables outside the Beach Bar but his application has been rejected by North East Lincolnshire Council due to the lack of room.
While still adamant he did not break the law, Mr Pungi is now looking forward to getting back open properly again.
He said: “People were just fed up with staying at home and wanted to get out for a drink. It was all perfectly legal.
He added: “We let the council know what our intentions were and I was keen to get dialogue and work with the officers. But we didn’t hear from them so opened up.
“My mum loves working there, along with my lad. It is a real family business but when there were some nasty comments on social media, involving threats of violence, I decided it was not worth the risk and closed. I did not want them taking that. I was still right to serve the customers, however and most people supported us. The customers were all happy and were amazing during the days we were open. They all kept socially distanced and pre-ordered happily as they were asked to.” Most bars with an outdoor seating area are expected to open during the day on Monday, April 12.
Other non-essential businesses such as hairdressers and shops will also reopen.
He is now also planning to have his takeaway, Just, open on Monday and has recruited between 10 and 15 new staff for the takeaway business serving pizzas, burgers, cake and shakes and donuts.
He said: “I feel I am very fortunate to have good people around me. “I want to repay that kindness and if people let me know about good people who have raised money for good causes, they can message Just Cleethorpes on Facebook or Just on Instagram and we will treat the deserving people in our community.
“It is my way of giving back something for the support I have had for many years.”
We let the council know what our intentions were and I was keen to get dialogue and work with the officers. But we didn’t hear from them so opened up
Kash Pungi