Published
Mon, Oct 5, 2020, 17:12
- "The new and constantly changing restrictions around Covid are proving too much," the venue said in a statement.
Liverpool venue 24 Kitchen Street has closed "for a few weeks" after receiving a £1,000 fine from Merseyside Police on Friday night.
The penalty was issued just before 8:30 PM after the authorities caught attendees in breach of the latest Covid-19 regulations, which had come into effect earlier that day, the Liverpool Echo reports. According to a police statement, "Officers saw tables with more than six people gathered around them [and] customers walking around the bar area without face coverings."
Chief Inspector Karl Baldwin added: "It is extremely disappointing that for the second weekend in a row we have been forced to issue a fine because a premises has failed in its obligations to act responsibly at a critical time for this city."
The 24 Kitchen Street team posted their own statement via Instagram. "The new and constantly changing restrictions around Covid are proving too much. We've tried our best to comply. The police [and] council are clearly trying to make an example of us."
Speaking to the Liverpool Echo, the venue's manager, Ioan Roberts, added: "We will be vigorously contesting the fine, it unfairly scapegoats a small independent business."
The recent update to England's pandemic restrictions include £1,000 starting fines for 85-decibel limit on music and "allowing dancing," and venue managers must take "all reasonable measures" to stop people from dancing and singing in groups of more than six.
Photo credit: Instagram