Pubs are urging punters to buy tickets to live music nights in a bid to exploit a Tier 2 lockdown loophole which means they can order drinks without a ‘substantial meal’.
Thousands of watering holes have been affected by the rules which forbid landlords providing alcohol to be drunk on the premises, unless it is served with a portion of food.
The definition of a ‘substantial meal’ has also been the subject of much discussion, with ministers concluding after days of confusion that a scotch egg would be an acceptable accompaniment to a pint or glass of wine.
The Horns in Watford, which is listed as a pub at Companies House, is among the venues trying to take advantage of the loophole
The venue said in a post that buying a ticket to one of its events ‘means we can serve you alcohol without food at any of our weekends gigs’
However, some pubs are getting around the rules due to a loophole, which states that ‘live music venues’ can open, and sell booze without the need for food, so long as capacity is restricted to 50 per cent, with no more than 2,000 people outside and 1,000 inside.
Government guidance states: ‘In cinemas, theatres, concert halls and sports stadia, alcohol can be ordered at a bar to be consumed when seated in the auditorium or area where the screening/performance is taking place. This should be limited to only those with tickets.’
As a result, a host of venues have been advertising events on social media in an effort to kick-start business during a trying year which has seen many forced to close for months.
The Horns in Watford, which is listed as a pub at Companies House, is among those trying to take advantage, writing on Facebook: ‘We will be ticketing Friday, Saturday, Sunday live music events for £3.
‘This also means we can serve you alcohol without food at any of our weekends gigs.’
‘Tickets will be sold on the door on a first-come, first-served basis.’
The Cavern Freehouse in south London, which is classified as a grassroots music venue rather than a pub, according to the Telegraph, has also put on evening performances for up to 50 customers, with tickets bought on the door.
The Cavern Freehouse in south London has also put on evening performances for up to 50 customers, with tickets bought on the door
The venue’s post read: ‘If you are someone that nurses half a lager all night then I would please ask you not to come as I’m trying to survive here and that place could be taken by someone that understands that!’
The venue’s post read: ‘If you are someone that nurses half a lager all night then I would please ask you not to come as I’m trying to survive here and that place could be taken by someone that understands that!’
The guidance was changed last week having originally insisted that any alcohol could only be served when accompanied by a ‘substantial meal’.
However, the Music Venue Trust made the case that a massive 92 per cent of grassroots venues don’t have the necessary facilities to provide such food.
Essentially, the change in policy now equates buying a ticket to purchasing a meal.
Meanwhile, a savvy pub landlord is also trying to beat the restrictions by adding boiling water to instant dishes and serving them as ‘substantial’ meals.
Brian Hall, 65, is reopening the Who’d A Thought It pub in Plumstead, London, by offering a new menu consisting of meals selling for £3.50.
Mr Hall, who does not have a kitchen at his venue, described how he boiled a kettle when one of his punters ordered the instant dish in an effort to get round the restrictions preventing him from opening his so-called ‘wet pub’.
Pub landlord Brian Hall, 65, reopened the Who’d A Thought It pub in Plumstead, London, by offering his with instant meals by Huel
The landlord, who explained that he would have lost £5,000 per week in lost revenue had he remained shut, said the food he is serving from Huel’s Hot & Savoury instant-meal range includes Thai Green Curry, Mexican Chilli and Tomato & Herb.
While venues in Tier 2 may be looking to attract punters this way, there will be no such joy in places like Birmingham, Greater Manchester and Bristol which are under Tier 3 restrictions.
This means that all hospitality settings, including pubs, have to remain shut as they did during the second national lockdown, except for takeaway, delivery and click-and-collect services.