Landlords hold lock-ins to sell off their beer while crowds gather to drink outside pubs as boozers flout Boris Johnson’s coronavirus lockdown on day one
- Landlords have been criticised for holding lock-ins breaching coronvirus rules
- Members of the public have filmed people staggering out of pubs since Friday
- Prime Minister Boris Johnson ordered the closure of all bars on Friday night
- Local councils have warned they will take action against rogue publicans
- Coronavirus symptoms: what are they and should you see a doctor?
Landlords have been holding lock-ins to sell of their stock, breaching the government’s coronavirus lockdown rules following Boris Johnson’s shut down call.
Residents across the country have reported seeing people sneaking into pubs risking the health and safety of everyone they meet so they can enjoy a few pints.
The Prime Minister announced the closure of all bars, restaurants and nightclubs on Friday night.
Publicans and customers breaching the new restrictions faced being fined by police, who have powers to disperse any gathering of more than two people who are not members of the same family.
Local residents claimed The Golden Lion bar in Kidderminster breached a coronavirus lockdown
Wyre Forest District Council announced they are investigating The Golden Lion and several other bars for alleged breaches of shutdown rules
However, a number of bars, such as The Golden Lion in Kidderminster continued to serve customers over the weekend.
Gordon Roberts claimed on the bar’s Facebook page: ‘This pub opened on Saturday after HM Government told pubs to close Friday evening…deserves the heaviest fine…lose their license…totally appalling…greed for money over people’s health.’
Paige Price, who was passing the bar on Sunday took a video showing a taxi waiting for customers inside the pub – two days after the closure order.
She wrote on Facebook: ‘The old men were staggering and clearly drunk.’
Ms Price was passing the pub around 5.45pm on Sunday. She said she saw people with their children inside the bar.
MailOnline has attempted to contact The Golden Lion for a comment.
A spokesperson for Worcestershire Regulatory Services confirmed The Golden Lion was among several bars in the area which are under investigation.
‘ Worcestershire Regulatory Services is investigating several businesses notified by the Police as being open at the weekend contrary to legal requirements. This includes Pennies and The Vault Bar in Kidderminster.
‘As well as investigating these premises officers will be carrying out spot checks at licensed premises and restaurants and prosecutions will follow if the new regulations are found to be being breached.
‘We can confirm that no licences have been revoked to date. If businesses need help with complying with the new regulations they should contact Worcestershire Regulatory Service who will be pleased to assist them.’
Meanwhile, others gathered outside The Old Gloucester Spot bar in Bristol, drinking cans in the front beer garden.
People had been spotted outside The Gloucester Old Spot in Bristol which had been closed. Several of the people were drinking cans of beer
Scenes of people meeting up in large groups prompted Mr Johnson to increase the level of restrictions on members of the public in a bid to lessen the impact of the coronavirus outbreak.
People are only allowed to leave their homes under a list of ‘very limited purposes’.
This includes a ban on public gatherings and the closure of non-essential shops.
But police chiefs warned of phone lines being inundated with calls on Monday night with questions about what movements are still permitted, while MPs also called for answers.
A failure to follow the rules could see police dispersing gatherings and imposing fines, which Government officials said would start at £30.