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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
National
Jess Molyneux

Pub owner who expected 'pat on back' slapped with £1,000 covid fine

A Merseyside pub owner who said he was expecting 'a pat on the back' for his covid secure business was devastated to be slapped with a £1,000 fine.

The Market Tavern pub in Kirkby was given a fixed penalty notice after Knowsley Council reported "multiple covid breaches".

A council spokesperson said the breaches were in relation to the serving of food and alcohol through table service only and breaches in social distancing.

However owner Tom Nash said his staff have gone "above and beyond" to create a covid secure environment and he willingly handed over CCTV to patrolling police.

He said he was expecting to be told they were following guidance exceptionally - but instead was made aware that the business would receive a fine.

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Tom told the ECHO: "The staff, everybody has been upbeat about covid. We were expecting to get a rewarding pat on the back for offering a covid-secure environment.

"It’s been difficult across the board. I said how is giving a fine to a non-profit organisation at this time going to help.

"It's just sad that the council are doing this to us when they know we were the only pub open in the town and had to change how we operated. It's devastating, it's really a blow for us."

Tom, who said his business has been hit hard by covid and who has "spent thousands" on covid changes, claimed table service was in place but that a safe drink collection point had also been set up, which led to the "miscommunication".

Inside the Market Tavern pub in Kirkby, showing social distancing between tables (Tom Nash)

He added: "I'm proud of the staff and how they have managed. The fine is unnecessary and we're not open now and everything we've done has been in a covid safe manner, right to collecting a beer from a bar."

A Knowsley Council spokesperson said: "Licensing Officers have carried out a follow up visit today where the breaches were once again explained and accepted by the proprietor.

"Officers were also satisfied that appropriate arrangements were now in place to ensure that social distancing guidance can be adhered to at the premises.”

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Knowsley Community Policing Chief Inspector Phil Mullally said: "It was explained to the licensee that a fixed penalty notice had been issued because of breaches of Covid regulations including evidence of people being served alcohol at the bar multiple times.

"As with the rest of Merseyside each local policing area was tasked with conducting licensed premises checks.

"Our officers visited many premises when they were open and it was pleasing that the vast majority of businesses introduced extensive measures to protect those inside.

"We know that this has been a difficult time and that a lot of people are having to make sacrifices. But we will not and cannot hesitate in taking action when the safety of the people of Merseyside is at risk."

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