Three pubs close again after positive Covid tests

Three pubs in England have had to close once again after receiving calls from punters who have subsequently tested positive for Covid-19.

It is believed at least three pubs have shut after reopening on Saturday 4 July. All three of the sites in question had previously posted on social media about introducing new social distancing and health and safety measures in line with government guidelines.

The Fox & Hounds in Batley, West Yorkshire, announced the news on Facebook. Management confirmed they had received a call from a customer who visited the pub on Saturday to say they had later tested positive for Covid-19.

The statement added: “Following this information we are awaiting further guidance from the NHS and track and trace. We fully understand this is a scary time but want to ensure our customer safety is our main priority in these tough times.

“Over the past few weeks we have put a lot of hard work into the pub following government guidance to get us opened back up. Anyone that has visited us this weekend can see our new lay out of tables of 1-metre plus, our one way systems, full table service and continuously cleaning throughout.”

The pub said staff were being tested and should have results in 48 hours, while the pub itself would be deep cleaned prior to reopening “when safe to do so”.

The Lighthouse Kitchen and Carvery in Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset had a similar experience. The pub said it was going through its list of customers from Saturday. All staff have been tested, and the results have come back negative.

“Unfortunately we will still be closed until further guidelines,” the pub management added in a statement posted on Facebook.

A second venue in the town, a vape bar called Vape Escape, also had to temporarily close after receiving a call from a customer with Covid.

Owner Leanne Underhill told burnham-on-sea.com that staff tests had all come back negative, while the bar has had a full deep clean.

“As soon as I got the message about the positive test result on Sunday, I immediately closed the bar, locked up and spoke with the NHS and Police who informed us of the correct steps, all of which we have followed,” she said. The bar has subsequently reopened.

The Village Home Pub in Alverstoke, Hampshire has also had to close due to a Covid case.

A statement posted on social media reads: “We have had a case of coronavirus in the pub which means that some of us are in isolation. The pub is now shut, but all being well will open again on Saturday. Anyone who was in the pub over the weekend there is no need to isolate unless you show symptoms or are contacted direct by the trace group.”

It follows news that, for the most part, cases of anti social behaviour and drink-related crime were not as high as expected, despite images circulating of packed streets in parts of London.

Simon Stevens, the head of the NHS, told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show on Sunday (5 July): “Pleasingly, we did not see last night the kind of scenes that people feared. The foolish few but the sensible majority is I think the story across the country, and long may that continue.”

A small number of pubs that reopened on Saturday were forced to close early due to the unruly behaviour of guests, however health secretary Matt Hancock said the “vast majority of people are doing the right thing”.

“From what I’ve seen, although there’s some pictures to the contrary, very, very largely people have acted responsibly,” he told Sky’s Ridge On Sunday.