PUB CURFEW AS YOUTHS CAUSE CHAOS

UNDER-21S BANNED:

AGLOUCESTERSHIRE pub has introduced a 7pm curfew for under-21s after the landlord said it had experienced bad behaviour from young drinkers.

He said some youngsters had verbally abused staff and flouted social distancing rules since The Old Neighbourhood Inn in Chalford reopened its garden.

Publican Jonathan Armstrong said the small country pub had had to employ door staff because of the behaviour of some drinkers.

He said young people could get so rowdy that regular customers “feel intimidated”.

The pub has slapped a curfew on drinkers aged 21 or under, unless they are with their parents.

Mr Armstrong said: “The main problem was the breaking of Covid regulations.

“It’s table-hopping, changing tables. We spend our lives telling them to sit down and stop moving tables.

“It’s difficult when customers get abusive – it makes things more difficult.

“I’m concerned for my staff. They have been verbally abused.”

After what he described as a tough year for the hospitality industry, Mr Armstrong said it was “like a kick in the teeth” to see young people bringing their own alcohol to the pub, and staff finding empty bottles of vodka when they had left.

“When you’re struggling to make a living, it’s like a kick in the teeth,” he said. “I’ve talked to a couple of groups, asking them to stop standing on tables. But they’re not even our rules.

“We’re in the hospitality trade and I hate being inhospitable.”

Mr Armstrong said the behaviour of some young people was putting off regular customers from visiting the pub.

He added: “It has affected our business as we cater for families. They weren’t coming in because of this behaviour. It’s the impact it’s had on our community, with them congregating on the streets and in the car park after they’ve left.”

He says the decision to turn away paying customers was very difficult.

“We hate making a blanket decision because there are some lovely youngsters,” he added.

Mr Armstrong said locals had been “very supportive” of the decision, with other landlords reaching out to say they had experienced similar behaviour.

I’m concerned for my staff. They have been verbally abused JONATHAN ARMSTRONG

Paul Nicholls > Landlord Jonathan Armstrong outside The Old Neighbourhood pub in Chalford