An assistant manager has been fined after four people were found drinking inside a pub during the Covid-19 lockdown, a council has revealed.
Police issued fines totalling £1,800 to them last week, Trafford Council said.
The council said the assistant manager of the Old Plough pub on Green Lane in Sale was issued with a fixed penalty fine of £1,000 after 'people were found to be drinking on the premises'.
The four customers involved were fined £200 each, town hall bosses added.
As a result, the council said Greater Manchester Police was increasing visits to businesses to 'reduce breaches' and keep people safe.
The Manchester Evening News has contacted the Old Plough for comment as well as Hydes Brewery.
In a statement, the council said: "Trafford Council and Greater Manchester Police are reminding residents that meeting indoors is contrary to Covid guidelines and runs the risk of fines for both individuals and business owners.
"With infection rates in Trafford remaining high and the new Covid-19 variant making indoor transmission more likely, both the council and GMP are increasing visits to businesses to reduce breaches to the rules and help keep people safe.
"Last week GMP issued fixed penalties of £1,000 to the assistant manager and £200 to four customers at the Old Plough pub on Green Lane in Sale, where people were found to be drinking on the premises."
Adam Mayers, the managing director of Hydes brewery, said: "We are performing our own internal investigation into the incident at the Plough. "We will be dealing with the matter swiftly once we have completed the necessary review.
"I can confirm that any activity outside of the current regulations is not condoned in any way by Hydes.
"The pub was not trading in any way and not open to the public for trading."
Councillor Mike Freeman, Trafford Council's executive member for Covid-19 recovery and reform, said: "The new strain of Covid is very infectious and particularly so indoors.
"It may seem innocent enough to meet a few friends for a drink but the reality is you could be putting their health, and your own, at risk.
"At a time when our hospitals are under severe strain from the level of Covid admissions, and the number of deaths from the virus is high, we all need to be doing our bit to reduce the number of infections in circulation in the community.
"We understand that lockdown is not easy and demands sacrifices from businesses and residents, but our duty is to protect the public.
"Where we have to take enforcement action to keep the rate of transmission down, we will not hesitate to do so."
Chief Inspector Shan Nasim said: "We are working really hard to act in a proportionate way with our communities in this situation, but those who flagrantly disregard rules will be dealt with robustly."
Businesses that have had to close during the current lockdown and previous restrictions may be eligible for financial assistance via business support grants.
