BAR CLOSED AND FINED AFTER HOSTING LATE-NIGHT PARTY
AFORMER strip club has become the first Bristol business to be fined £1,000 and forced to close down for breaking coronavirus rules.
Officers found 80 people at a party at the Jack of Diamonds during the early hours of last Sunday, October 18.
The bash has been branded “thoughtless” and “harmful” by police.
Inspectors also found the Old Market club was selling alcohol without a licence, and staying open past the Government’s 10pm curfew.
The events venue had no Track and Trace system in place.
Social distancing and face covering guidelines were also not being adhered to.
From midday on Friday, bosses were prohibited from holding any ‘club style’ events for three months. This includes the provision of a DJ, live music and the sale of alcohol.
Cllr Steve Pearce, cabinet member for waste, commercialisation and regulatory services at Bristol City Council, said: “We understand that it is a very challenging time for businesses which have had their livelihoods disrupted and had to adapt to the new ways of working in the face of Covid-19.
“Across the city of Bristol, the Covid-19 infection rate has been significantly increasing and now sits at 241.7 new cases per 100,000 population (in the past seven days, as of October 22).
“We are seeing a high proportion of cases in the under 40 age group, but the risk is also growing across older age groups too.
“We have provided clear advice to local businesses across the city to support them in developing Covid-secure operations.
“This behaviour is jeopardising other businesses that are complying with the rules and playing their part in keeping Bristol open safely.
“The direction to cease services is necessary at this point in time to prevent people attending the premise, as we are clear that their operations are putting people at risk of Covid-19 transmission.”
“The direction will remain in place until January 22 unless the premise is able to open as a Covidsecure business that complies with all the restrictions.
“We will regularly review the situation.”
Insp Rob Cheeseman at Avon & Somerset Police said the legislation is in place to “save lives and stop the spread of this dangerous virus”.
He said: “Officers attended the Jack of Diamonds in the early hours of Sunday, October 18, to find a party taking place, attended by in excess of 80 people.
“This is a prime example of a thoughtless and harmful breach of the restrictions which we cannot allow to take place.
“In addition to the closure order, the owner has been given a £1,000 fixed penalty notice for the bar being open past the 10pm curfew.
“We’ll continue to work with all our partner agencies to keep the public safe and make sure the restrictions in place to protect us all are adhered to.
“Anyone thinking of attending any venue should remind themselves of the regulations, particularly those relating to gatherings of more than six and face coverings, and know they could themselves be fined £200 if they fail to abide by the law.”