A Merseyside tapas restaurant has received an official warning after it breached coronavirus rules by allowing customers to drink at tables on the pavement outside.
El Pueblo in Huyton took advantage of Sunday’s good weather to allow some customers to sit outside its premises in Derby Road and drink coffee or alcohol from takeaway cups.
The restaurant planned to repeat the experiment on Tuesday, but quickly abandoned those plans after Knowsley Council issued it with a prohibition notice for breaching coronavirus regulations.
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While bars and restaurants can offer a takeaway service, the government’s rules still prevent them from allowing customers to use outdoor seating areas.
The prohibition notice means El Pueblo could be prosecuted or have its licence reviewed if it breaches the regulations again.
The owner, Turgot Olgun, told the ECHO he had thought outdoor seating areas were permitted, but admitted he had “made a mistake” and would not be allowing customers to sit outside.
Cllr Shelley Powell, Knowsley’s cabinet member for communities and neighbourhoods, said: “We take any breaches against COVID19 guidelines extremely seriously and have taken action against the owner of El Pueblo by serving a prohibition notice which means that any further breaches could result in the premises licence holder being prosecuted and the premises licence being reviewed.
“We have also shared information with all licenced premises in Knowsley regarding their responsibilities during this time – they must remain closed until the Government tell them otherwise and we will continue to monitor compliance across the Borough and we will take robust action where breaches are identified.”
This is not the first time the council has taken action against El Pueblo.
Last November, the council had to take the restaurant to court after it failed to pay £6,546 in business rates - a sum which El Pueblo did subsequently pay.
