Shropshire pub denies lock in after police visit
A pub in Clun has denied deliberately flouting Covid-19 social distancing rules by having a lock-in after a visit from the police.
Officers visited The Sun Inn, High Street last night and issued a stern warning.
South Shropshire SNT's said: "Bishops Castle Safer Neighbourhood Policing Team have had to close down a lock in at a pub in Clun tonight.
"We will use the full extent of the law to ensure people abide by the rules during this pandemic."
But The Sun Inn posted a statement online to deny that they had a lock in. It said: "The police visit is true. The lock in, is not. We'd like to start by saying we are not trying to condone what we did as being right, but we do feel we have the right to explain.
"Last night, we were incredibly busy on takeaways. Barrie was exhausted and we thought we were all done, and had turned everything off in the kitchen. Then we had three more orders come through from loyal, long standing customers, so agreed to do them.
"Said customers turned up before their food was ready, so rather than keep them in the beer garden at 9.30pm, we allowed them to wait inside the pub until their food was ready. The customers had also ordered takeaway beer, and while they were waiting, we allowed them to pour some into a glass. Yes, it was wrong, but we did all maintain the social distancing rule, whether you choose to believe that or not.
"The police visited and warned us for having people inside the pub, and allowing them to drink their beer on the premises. Again, it was NOT a lock in, this was three people waiting for their takeaway food. Yes, we made a bad decision, and for that, we throw our hands up.
"We aren't trying to get away with anything, we would much rather be given this chance to explain before the rumour mill goes into overdrive. The police said to us that this absolutely wasn't allowed, no matter the time, no matter the circumstances. They gave us a warning.
"We have not been fined, closed down, or stripped of our license. We have been warned, and you can be certain, we will not be making the same mistake again. We asked the officers if we could carry on with the takeaway service and they said yes.
"The upshot is, we made a stupid mistake, and we are genuinely sorry."
