Pub ordered to close for rules breach
A VILLAGE pub has been ordered to close for breaking coronavirus regulations.
The Shoulder of Mutton in Great Bowden, near Market Harborough, was told to shut its doors last week due to concerns over customers gathering outside the pub for its takeaway service.
Officials at Leicestershire County Council said the pub’s takeaway service constituted “a serious and imminent threat to public health” and acted following consultation with its director of public health, Harborough District Council and police.
The concerns related to the number of people gathering in the vicinity of the pub.
Gary Connors, head of regulatory services for the county council, said: “We had a number of concerns about a range of breaches around the government restrictions when it comes to venues which offer a takeaway service.
“In this case, how the takeaway service was operating was enough to constitute a serious and imminent threat to public health.
“We’ve been left with no alternative but to use our powers to issue a direction which fully closes access to the public. We will continue to monitor the situation on a weekly basis.
“It is important for the local economy that businesses continue to trade, but it’s down to us all to do all we can to control the spread of the virus.”
The order, which came into effect from Wednesday, December 30, required the pub to fully close to the public.
A pub spokesman said: “As a proud member of our valuable local community, we are saddened to have been seen to have breached Covid rules on this occasion.
“We have invested money making the venue safe and have been praised both by customers and local authorities in terms of our open collaboration and how we have endeavoured to keep our loyal customers safe.
“Unfortunately, it seems we did not get it right on this occasion given the forever changing protocol and we whole-heartedly apologise. A hard lesson has been learned and we will now work even closer with our local police force and official licensing regulations.
“Under no circumstances did we wish to put any of our customers at risk and will endeavour to further improve and monitor the gathering of people when outside of the public house and the licensed area.”
The closure notice is due to be reviewed this week.