Council health officials have ordered a pub in Oadby to stay shut after it was closed down for breaking coronavirus rules.
Officers from Leicestershire County Council today told the landlord at the Black Dog in London Road that he must remain closed until next Friday at least, when they will carry out another review on the situation.
The pub was first issued with a closure notice by Leicestershire County Council, Oadby and Wigston Borough Council and Leicestershire Police on Friday October 16.
The closure notice was then reviewed today, but the council has decided not to allow the pub to reopen.
Gary Connors, head of regulatory services for Leicestershire County Council, said: “The Black Dog does remain closed.
“However, we fully appreciate the economic impact on the business as well as the importance of balancing this with the wider risk to public health. We’ll continue to monitor the situation with the business.”
The council has said the pub was closed down due to breaches of social distancing rules.
Mr Connors said of the closure on October 16: “We had a number of concerns about a range of breaches around the government restrictions and enough to constitute a serious and imminent threat to public health.”
The council has not given any further details about the breaches.
Ronnie Gill, landlord at The Black Dog, said the council ordered him to close the pub at 8pm on Friday, October 16.
“Obviously, I am very disappointed that we have not been allowed to reopen today.
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“It is hard enough these days to try to keep a pub going under the Covid-19 restrictions without this kind of problem.
“We hope we can reopen soon and continue to serve our brilliant and loyal regulars.”
The Oadby and Wigston Borough Council area is subject to Tier 2 restrictions, which means no mixing with other households indoors and no more than six people meeting outdoors.
But the local MP said he fears the town is heading for Tier 3 after a large rise in the number of cases.
Pubs and restaurants must close at 10pm.
