THREE pubs in Bolton have been accused of holding secret lock-ins amid the Coronavirus lockdown – putting their own punters at risk.
The Shakespeare pub in Farnworth, Bolton was slammed by Police after it claimed the pub was letting punters in through the backdoor.
Chief Constable Ian Hopkins told BBC radio that rough pub in Farnworth had been trading despite Government orders to stay shut to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
The Bolton News reported that Police were called to the Glynne Street pub at 8.40pm on Wednesday to reports that the pub was “continuing to trade”.
“We will be dealing with them. They will have their licence revoked.
“I have got numerous examples of licensed premises that are continuing to do that. We will treat this really seriously.”
Shakespeare pub owners Hawthorn Leisure denied the claims saying: ““Hawthorn Leisure has been strictly adhering to Government guidance, and the pub has not been open since it shut its doors on Friday night. Furthermore, our manager and her husband are both self-isolating due to pre-existing health concerns.”
“The only people to have visited the pub since it closed are people from Tung Sing restaurant, dropping off surplus potatoes and vegetables, which our manager has been cutting up for an old people’s home as part of a community initiative, a painter who is working on the toilets, and a dog walker.”
Other venues rumoured to be operating amid the lockdown are The Griffin in Bolton Town Centre and The Post Office in Farnworth.
One source told Politicalite: “Regulars were bragging about having a lock-in in the Griffin – with one punter coming home in the early hours waking up the whole of his street.”
More follows.
BOOZER BAN
BRITIAN’s boozers shut last week in an unprecedented move to slow the spread of Coronavirus.
The ban forced Brits to stay at home and drink booze in their kitchens.
The Government has allowed Off-Licences to remain open – so boozy Brits can drink at home.
PM Boris Johnson made the order meaning pubs and restaurants MUST stay shut across the country until safe to re-open.
The Prime Minster was today diagnosed with COVID-19.
