Welsh pub landlord slams Downing Street parties for allegedly taking place while its drinking spot was penalised for jubilant footie fans leaving their seats momentarily.
A pub landlord who was fined when his customers jumped up to celebrate a goal during a televised football game has condemned the latest Downing Street party allegations as “absolutely disgraceful”.
Raymond Wellings, who runs the bar at the Minsthorpe Hotel, near Pontefract, was fined £1,000 for breaking coronavirus laws in October 2020.
Customers leapt up from their seats when Leeds United scored against Manchester City, just as council officials and local police were checking that covid regulations were being followed in the area. At the time, drinkers were meant to remain seated in groups of no more than six.
The bar’s customers clubbed together to raise £300 towards the £1,000 penalty fee issued to the Minsthorpe.
“It’s one rule for the rich and another rule for the poor,” Wellings said of the recent Downing Street party allegations.
“It’s just ridiculous. And then they’re having cheese and wine and saying it’s OK. It’s just a complete farce the whole lot of it.”
Boris Johnson has been accused of attending a rule-breaking garden party in May 2020, after a leaked email revealed that up to 40 people had been invited to “bring their own booze” and “make the most of the lovely weather”.
In June 2021, it was revealed that £15,000 had been handed out in covid breach fines to pubs and restaurants in the county of Nottinghamshire alone. Offences included taking indoor bookings for large groups, customers queuing in bar areas instead of receiving table service and face masks not being warn at the appropriate times.
One Nottinghamshire establishment, The Plough Inn, was fined £1,000 after seven staff members and customers were discovered watching TV together during lockdown. In addition to the £1,000 fee dished out to the pub, each individual was also fined £200. The pub was also temporarily stripped of its food and drink license.
At one stage, transgressions by pubs resulted in £1,000 for first offences, £2,000 for second offences, £3,000 for third and £4,000 for fourth breaches.
“Whoever’s been to these [Downing Street] parties should resign, because after all, they were breaking the law,” Wellings of Pontefract said.
Wellings added that he could have taken the authorities to court: “I might’ve won but I couldn’t risk losing any more money, especially with being closed and no money coming in.”
The UK hospitality industry is thought to have lost £80.8 billion of sales in the 12 months from April 2020 to April 2021.
