Pub is stormed by police for flouting coronavirus lockdown rules by holding a secret lock-in for regulars as landlady is blasted for ‘putting lives in danger’
- Police raided The Blue Bell in Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, on Saturday
- Pub has been closed indefinitely and stock worth thousands of pounds seized
- Owners thought to have been unaware of the prohibition-style drinking session
A pub was raided by police for flouting the coronavirus lockdown rules after the landlady held a secret lock-in for regulars.
Officers stormed The Blue Bell in Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, on Saturday after receiving a tip off about the illicit drinking session.
The council’s licensing department has since closed the pub indefinitely and seized thousands of pounds worth of stock.
Officers stormed The Blue Bell in Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, on Saturday after receiving a tip off about the illicit drinking session
The pub’s owners are thought to have been unaware of the prohibition-style drinking session that was held by the landlady.
She has now been sacked and kicked out of her lodgings at the pub where she had been living with her boyfriend.
But all parties could still face prosecution under new laws passed last week.
Chief Supt Rob Griffin said: ‘The police and our partners will not tolerate those people who deliberately break the rules and put other people’s lives in danger by their selfish actions.
‘The government has been very specific that rules need to be followed so that lives can be saved.
‘Those who choose to ignore these rules run the risk of swift action like has been taken here and they could face a criminal prosecution as well. People have got to take this seriously. This is about saving lives.’
The pub’s owners are thought to have been unaware of the prohibition-style drinking session that was held by the landlady. Pictured: The Blue Bell
Cllr Helen-Ann Smith, of Ashfield District Council, said: ‘The irresponsible actions of the bar manager were the root cause of this incident.
‘The government has restrictions in place for a reason.
‘It beggars belief why this group of people thought it was acceptable to have a private party when the majority of residents were staying home to help save lives.
‘Drinking with even one friend goes against the government’s guidelines and unless people start adhering to these guidelines the number of coronavirus cases will continue to increase.’
It comes after the government introduced new guidance around social distancing with all bars and clubs being asked to shut in order to stop the spread of coronavirus.