Police 'find customers hiding in cupboards' during lockdown raid on pub

Police raided a pub following reports it was still serving customers during the lockdown
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Customers were found hiding in cupboards after officers raided a pub suspected of breaching coronavirus lockdown regulations, police have said.

Officers went to the Pitsmoor Hotel, Sheffield, on Friday after receiving a tip-off from a member of the public that the pub was still serving its customers.

Police said they found drinkers hiding in cupboards.

Pubs, restaurants and non-essential shops were told to close on March 23 as the UK entered a nationwide lockdown in an attempt to slow the spread of Covid-19. Pub owners that ignore the lockdown order and remain open can be given a prohibition notice and fined.

The pub's alcohol licence is now under review after South Yorkshire Police and Sheffield City Council issued a prohibition order forcing it to shut.

John O'Malley, Liquor Licensing Manager at South Yorkshire Police, told the BBC: "On Friday night, officers attended the premises and found a number of people hiding in cupboards, the pub was clearly still open for business.

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"What makes this more significant, is that the licence holder has already been served a prohibition notice under the legislation for another premise, The Staffordshire Arms on Sorby Street.

"Licences for both venues are now under review by ourselves and Sheffield City Council, so there could be long-term implications for these businesses."

Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove previously said that areas of hospitality including pubs could be the last to reopen after the lockdown.

He told BBC's Andrew Marr Show: "Areas of hospitality will be among the last to exit the lock down, yes that is true, they will be among the last.

"This virus has changed so much, it's a new virus of a great potency and lethality. It spreads remarkably fast, we want to ensure that we can get on top of it."

Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon said: "Wetherspoon has no hotline to the government as to when pubs might be permitted to reopen and we doubt if the government itself has yet made a decision on this.

"Like all companies we are trying to make a plan for the future and are guessing that they may be allowed to reopen in late June, around three months after they closed.

"However, that is just an estimate and may prove to be entirely incorrect."

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