With the Tier 2 restrictions for Hertfordshire, pubs are only allowed to open if they offer a “substantial meal”. We have taken advice from East Herts Environmental Health to clarify this and can share this below. If you are a pub who is unable to open you will be able to apply for a grant through East Herts. This is currently being set up, but you can contact them now with some required details to help speed up the process.
If you have any questions on the above, please contact us and we will try to assist.
Environmental Health Advice
Requirement to close businesses selling alcohol for consumption on the premises (other than with a table meal)
- A person responsible for carrying on a business of a pub, bar or other business involving the provision of alcohol for consumption on the premises must cease to carry on that business unless the alcohol is served as part of a table meal that consumed by the customer.
- This regulation does not apply to a customer at a cinema, theatre, concert hall or sportsground and the alcohol is ordered by and served to a customer who has a ticket to watch a film, performance or event at such venues to consume while seated for the performance.
What is a Table Meal?
- The customer must be seated at a table and the meal must be a main meal, whether breakfast, lunch or dinner.
- The meal should be plated and more than a snack. A single item on a plate, such as a sausage roll or portion of chips is unlikely to be considered a main meal. However a sausage roll served with accompaniments such as vegetables or salad could be considered a main meal.
- Sharing platters on their own are unlikely to be considered a main meal.
- The alcohol is to be served ‘as part of’ the meal, the main purpose of frequenting the premises is to have the meal, the alcohol is secondary.
- Customers who intend to drink alcohol should be served food promptly once on the premises and should not be allowed to remain on the premises, drinking alcohol, for an unreasonable amount of time after they have finished their meal.
- The table meal must be served by the premises, customers bringing their own food does not satisfy the table meal requirement.
Grant Application Advice from East Herts
We are aware that the Government has announced further support for Pubs which are unable to open after the national lockdown due to the restrictions on providing food with drinks.
If you are a ‘wet pub’ please email Sandra.huntingford@hertspartnership-ala.gov.uk, stating the following:
- Name of pub
- Business rate reference number
- Confirmation that;
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- you are not able to reopen under TIER 2 restrictions because you do not provide food.
- You will not exceed state aid limits by receiving this £1000 grant
- That your business was trading on the 4 November 2020
- The business is not be in administration, insolvency or have a striking off notice.
East Herts are awaiting guidance form the Government on the scheme but hope that this early contact will speed up the process once the scheme is published.
