A Grantham pub has been closed for trading beyond the government’s 10pm curfew during the coronavirus pandemic, despite staff claiming they weren’t aware of the new closing time.
Lincolnshire Police visited The Priory on Dysart Road at 10.35pm on October 2 before it was voluntarily closed with immediate effect by the licence holder Ei Group.
Police found the pub was still open and trading. The front door was open, the lights were on and customers were sat inside drinking alcohol.
The pub will now remain closed until a new designated premises supervisor is found.
Sergeant Kimble Enderby, Alcohol Licensing Team Manager for Lincolnshire Police said: “Staff claimed they weren’t aware of the new closing time, despite it being in place for over a week.
“My team immediately contacted Ei Group, the pub company that controls the licence for this venue.
“After hearing what officers had encountered they made the decision to immediately close the pub and remove the designated premises supervisor (DPS).
“The Priory will remain closed whilst the company find a replacement DPS.
“By taking swift action to resolve the situation Ei Group has acted as a responsible licence holder and hopefully this case will act as a deterrent; opening beyond 10pm risks not being able to open at all.”
Officers from the Alcohol Licensing Team supported by local police are carrying out patrols county wide to ensure that the 10pm closure time and other coronavirus regulations are being adhered to by licensed premises.
A spokesperson for Ei Publican Partnerships said: “The pub is now closed whilst a new Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) is appointed.
“We are working to ensure we can reopen the premises as soon as possible to enable our customers can return to their community pub.”
This is not the first pub in the county to have been caught out after The Dog and Bone in Lincoln was found to be breaking coronavirus curfew, including customers drinking after 10pm and a group of 18 gathered in the pool playing area.
The Lincolnite welcomes your views. All comments are reactively-moderated and must obey the house rules. Please stay on topic and be respectful of other readers.
Exciting news for MyLocal app users and The Lincolnite readers! Our latest update is now available to download from your app store and comes packed with the best local news experience you can enjoy.
Revamped News Feed: Enjoy faster loading times and smoother scrolling that make catching up on local news a breeze.
New Play Video Feed: Dive into a dynamic video feed that brings local stories to life in a whole new way.
Enhanced In-App Browser: Access external links quickly and efficiently, right from the app, without any distractions.
Update your MyLocal app from your app store (version 2.73) now and start enjoying these great new features today!
P.S.: Start your MyLocal membership today to support MyLocal and The Lincolnite deliver you a better local news experience and honest journalism from across Lincolnshire.
P.P.S.: We have some huge things in the pipeline, stay tuned!
Exciting news for MyLocal app users and The Lincolnite readers! Our latest update is now available to download from your app store and comes packed with the best local news experience you can enjoy.
Revamped News Feed: Enjoy faster loading times and smoother scrolling that make catching up on local news a breeze.
New Play Video Feed: Dive into a dynamic video feed that brings local stories to life in a whole new way.
Enhanced In-App Browser: Access external links quickly and efficiently, right from the app, without any distractions.
Update your MyLocal app from your app store (version 2.73) now and start enjoying these great new features today!
P.S.: Start your MyLocal membership today to support MyLocal and The Lincolnite deliver you a better local news experience and honest journalism from across Lincolnshire.
P.P.S.: We have some huge things in the pipeline, stay tuned!