More than 50 bars, pubs and restaurants visited by Newark and Sherwood District Council as hospitality with outdoor facilities and shops re-open
More than 50 bars, pubs and restaurants were visited on Saturday as part of a dedicated night of action after the long-awaited return of the hospitality industry.
A team from Newark and Sherwood District Council were out across the district to make sure revellers abided by the rules now pubs with outdoor facilities and shops have re-opened in England.
Council leader David Lloyd said: “The re-opening of our hospitality sector is a key part to aiding our post-covid economic recovery and the night of action is just one of the ways we’ve been working with businesses to ensure that guidelines are being met and support is on hand if needed.
“People are beginning to enjoy the easing of restrictions and with non-essential shops and hospitality venues open again, we would like to remind everyone about the importance of following the rules. This includes social distancing and staying two metres apart, wearing face coverings in public and washing hands regularly when visiting hospitality venues.
“It is extremely important we continue to work together to slow the spread of covid and not undo all our good work over the last few months.
“We will be investigating any venue reported to not be following these rules or having difficulties with large queues or unmanageable amounts of visitors.”
The night of action took place across the whole of Newark and Sherwood.
Officers were deployed to make sure customers and businesses were complying with the rules and operating responsibly.
Overall the response from the hospitality trade was reported as positive, with the vast majority of premises demonstrating good compliance with regulations.
A small number of issues were identified and venues concerned will be given additional guidance before follow-up visits are made.
The council has deployed covid marshals around the district’s town centres, to monitor queues and social distancing, while being on hand to offer support and guidance to customers and business-owners. Marshals have no enforcement powers, but will report any breaches of the rules.
Chief Inspector Heather Sutton, divisional commander for policing in Newark and Sherwood, was impressed by how responsible the majority of venues and their customers had been.
Policing staffing on the night included two sergeants and seven constables and six specials.
An 18-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assault at The Old Post Office on Kirkgate, Newark, a 24-year-old male was issued with a Direction to Leave Notice, a specially-invoked policing power approved by Chief Inspector Sutton for Saturday, after he was verbally abusive towards door staff in Newark town centre.
No significant issues were reported in Southwell.