Meeting others in pubs to be illegal in North East

Lockdown restrictions in North-East England are to be tightened in a bid to halt the rise in Covid-19 cases.

Mixing between households in any indoor setting such as pubs and restaurants, will be against the law from Wednesday 30th September in the seven listed areas of the North East: Newcastle, Sunderland, Gateshead, North Tyneside, South Tyneside, Northumberland and County Durham.

These tougher measures will affect two million people and were announced by Health Secretary Matt Hancock on 28th September.

Households in the region had already been advised to avoid mixing, but the new ban will be enforced with fines.

Anyone found to be breaking the rules and taking part in an illegal gathering could be dispersed by police, and those over 18 can be fined and could face a £200 charge for their first offence.  Second offences would incur a £400 fine, which would then double for each subsequent offence up to a maximum of £6,400.

Covid-19 cases in the region have risen sharply and the rate of infections now stands at more than 100 cases per 100,000.

Pubs, restaurants and other hospitality venues remain limited to table service only and have a 10pm curfew.  COVID-secure schools and workplaces are not affected by this update.

Official government guidance can be found here.

If you run licensed premises and need advice on this or any other licensing matter, please get in touch with Matt Foster, Head of Licensing and Gaming on 0191 212 7702 or email mfoster@mincoffs.co.uk.