​Ensuring hospitality venues are following the new Covid rules

Hundreds of licensed premises across Bury have been visited by council officers and the police to ensure they are complying with Covid-19 laws and guidance

Licensing staff have advised 420 hospitality premises of the latest legislation which require pubs, bars, clubs and restaurants to provide table service only and close at 10pm.

Other new rules introduced by the Government in the last two weeks include formalising the guidance around social distancing, the 2m or 1m+ rule on table spacing, the wearing of face masks by staff and customers and the introduction of the NHS QR code contact tracing app.

In the last two weeks, council officers visited 340 premises, and found that the vast majority were following the rules. Of those who had failed to close by 10pm, five businesses - three bars and two takeaways – were given written warnings.

Anyone found to be flouting the new laws could be issued with a fixed penalty notice of £1,000.

Councillor Jane Black, cabinet member for the cultural economy, said: “Pubs, restaurants and others in the hospitality trade have had to implement a wide range of measures to keep customers safe since the lockdown eased. I've seen some really good examples of businesses taking this really seriously, but there are some others which have room for improvement. Together with the police, our public protection and security officers have been working closely with licensed premises across the borough – and particularly in town centres - to make sure they are opening safely.”

Lesley Jones, Bury’s director of public health, added: “Unfortunately the infection levels for Covid-19 have continued to rise rapidly in recent weeks and we have one of the highest levels in the country. It is vital that everyone in Bury does their best to stay safe and stop the virus being passed on by washing their hands, not mixing between households, keeping a safe distance from others and wearing a mask in enclosed public places. If the virus keeps spreading we are at risk of more lockdowns which none of us want to see.”

She added that Bury is still subject to extra restrictions which mean people must not socialise with other households in private homes and gardens, and are strongly advised to avoid mixing with other households in any public venue. “We know this is hard for the public to follow but only by working together to try to reduce the transmission of the virus can we keep ourselves and others safe."

Anyone who has concerns about premises not following the Covid-safe rules can report it via www.bury.gov.uk/coronavirus-reportabusiness

ENDS

Press release issued: 2 October 2020.