Pub in England can still legally sell pints after 10pm due to curfew loophole
A Wetherspoons pub is still allowed to legally serve customers after 10pm due to a loophole which exempts it from the coronavirus curfew.
The Hope and Champion, which is on the M40 in Buckinghamshire, is classed as providing an ‘essential service’, as it serves food and drink to drivers who stop for a break.
It is technically part of a service station, and can therefore shut at 11pm – despite Boris Johnson ruling that all bars, restaurants and pubs in England must now close at 10pm.
A spokesman for JD Wetherspoon said: ‘The pub can remain open until 11pm throughout the week because it is part of a service station.
‘There is a 100-bedroom hotel close to the pub and the majority of customers using the pub at night are guests staying at the hotel who want something to eat and drink.
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‘All regulations around covid, such as ordering off an app, table service and social distancing, remain the same at all times.’
The Hope and Champion opened in 2014, with critics telling ITV they feared it might cause ‘guaranteed drinking and driving’ at the time. It is the only pub at a service station in the country.
A member of staff told The Sun that their customers were in ‘the only legally open pub serving after 10pm’.
Johnson has faced considerable backlash over the 10pm curfew, which was introduced last week. MPs have warned the Prime Minister that the drinking deadline is merely causing revellers to continue socialising with their friends at home.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan has also called for an immediate review of the policy after seeing images of packed tubes shortly after 10pm.
He said: ‘Given the scenes we’ve seen across the UK of people gathering and drinking on the streets once licensed premises close, the government should carry out an immediate review of the effectiveness of this measure, including assessing any unintended consequences of increased social mixing in other settings after 10pm.
‘It is also absolutely essential that our clubs, theatres and other venues get access to extra emergency financial aid as long as the restrictions remain in place. With many venues still unable to open, Londoners’ livelihoods are dependent on it.’
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