These are all the Preston businesses fined or given notices for Covid rule breaches

Preston City Council town hall. Pic: Tony Worrall

Multiple Preston businesses have been found to be breaching Covid rules.

They have been included in a list on Preston City Council’s website where businesses have been issued health and safety notices, fixed penalty notices and prohibition notices relating to Covid-19 restriction breaches.

Councillor Peter Moss, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Planning and Regulation at Preston City Council said: “I understand the tremendous pressure and uncertainty businesses continue to face due to the pandemic and the confusion caused by ever changing restrictions from central government.

“We provide information on our website to support businesses and continue to talk regularly with business owners to help them understand the rules and their practical implications. I am extremely grateful to the vast majority of businesses who are following the rules and making sure their business is Covid compliant and safe for customers and staff.

“Wherever possible our environmental health officers will seek to explain the rules and give businesses the opportunity to make changes to ensure they are compliant.”

It has been said that police are now more likely to fine those who do not stick to Covid rules.

Cllr Moss added: “However, where necessary our teams are exercising their regulatory powers against non-compliant businesses that aren’t adhering to the rules designed to protect members of the public and stop the spread of the virus.

“It is vital we all continue to play our part and follow the rules to alleviate the pressure on our already stretched health services and protect our communities.”

Tulketh Tap House were fined £500 as a result of not adhering to coronavirus restrictions.

This was issued for failing to prevent mingling between household groups.

Ray Woods, owner of Tulketh Tap House said: “Just to confirm I had one visit and people [were] mingling in the bar.

“Within two days of the visit I had taken measures to prevent this happening again.”

Reps Gym also received a fixed penalty notice Wednesday 25 November for trading when they should have been closed.

They also received a further two Monday 14 December.

This is as well as a prohibition notice in November 2020, again for trading when they were under businesses that should have been closed as a result of coronavirus restrictions.

Here is a list of businesses that have received notices for Covid breaches:

Refreshment Village, Church Street – Restricted business operating between 10pm-5am
Ice Berg, Miller Arcade – Restricted business operating between 10pm-5am
Nostalgia Cocktail Bar, Fylde Road – Premises closed due to serious threat to public health
Nostalgia Cocktail Bar, Fylde Road – Restricting the activities within the premises when open
Reps Gym, Roman Way – Restricted business trading when they should be closed X4
Tulketh Tap Room, Tulketh Brow – Failing to prevent mingling between household groups

The manager of IceBurg restaurant said: “This issue happened in October 2020, we had an Uber driver in store post 10pm.

“We were unaware at the time delivery drivers could also not enter the store past the curfew time, this matter was resolved on the day with the officer.

“We now greet drivers and customers outside of the store.”

The current fixed penalty starts at £1,000 for the first offence (lowered to £500 with early payment).

However, the second offence is £2,000 rising to £4,000 for three offences and £10,000 for four incidents.

Maytham Nejad, manager of Refreshment Village said: “We only had one customer in at 10pm and he left at 10:01. I can understand if it was 10:05 onwards but [not] 10:01.

“Now the law has changed where we can stay open until 11pm.

“We are asking customers to keep safe and wear a mask.”

All businesses mentioned were contacted by Blog Preston for comment.

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