The Government was forced to u-turn on its substantial meal rule following a legal battle mounted by Greater Manchester's night-time economy adviser.
Sacha Lord, who also organises the Parklife festival, brought a court case against health secretary Matt Hancock.
Lord described it as a 'landmark victory for the hospitality industry', which has faced some of the toughest restrictions of any sector since the pandemic began.
The substantial meal rule had been introduced when the tier system was brought in last year, and meant that alcohol could only be served alongside food.
It was a measure that forced the closure of thousands of wet-led pubs and bars.
Lord had argued that the rule had a greater impact on some communities than others, saying back in November that it showed 'an ignorant disregard for the most disadvantaged or oldest in society who are unable to afford meals just to be able to socialise with friends, see loved ones or simply feel part of their community'.
But now judges have ruled that the restriction was 'arguably discriminatory towards certain sections of society' and the Government has thrown out the rule as part of its new roadmap.
The curfew will also be scrapped as hospitality venues start to reopen in the coming months.
Lord said: "This is a landmark victory for the hospitality industry. We are pleased with this judgement and that the court case compelled the Government to remove the substantial meal requirement in their recent roadmap.
"We have continually stated that this measure actively discriminates against and unfairly impacts the poorest and most disadvantaged sectors of our society and was lacking in scientific evidence to support it.
"We will continue to work with those most affected across the night-time economy and hospitality sectors to ensure all measures imposed on the industries going forward are fair, not only to the operators and businesses struggling to survive, but to the general public.
He is now lobbying to see the evidence that supports indoor hospitality opening later than non-essential retail.
Oliver Wright, a partner at law firm JMW Solicitors who represented Sacha Lord, said: "This case highlighted the lack of real scientific evidence to support the Government’s policy, and their failure to understand its discriminatory effects on non-white and BAME communities."
Lord will donate all court costs recovered from the Secretary of State evenly between Hospitality Action and the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity.
