Bedfords Bar in Norwich.
- Credit: James Randle
The future of a city bar remains in the balance after councillors were unable to make a decision over whether to strip it of its licence.
On Friday, Bedfords, on Old Post Office Yard in Norwich, was subject to a licensing review following a breach of Covid-19 regulations.
The review came as a result of an incident on November 4, the day before the country went into its second national lockdown.
As the venue was preparing to close, around 30 people stood up in the bar and started singing, dancing and hugging - despite strict social distancing being a requirement for pubs.
Bedfords Bar in Norwich.
- Credit: James Randle
The fate of a city bar and entertainment venue accused of breaching Covid-19 regulations will be decided this week, when councillors could decide to strip it of its licence.
The premises licence of Bedfords, in Old Post Office Yard in Norwich, will be reviewed by Norwich City Council s licensing committee on Friday (February 10)
According to documents, which councillors will consider at Friday s meeting, a group of customers were dancing in the venue that night, with no social distancing.
The council s public protection officer Richard Divey states in those documents that the reason for the review is the premises licence holder failed to comply with The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations 2020 by allowing dancing and no social distancing on the evening of November 4, 2020, thus committing an offence .
Bedfords Bar on Old Post Office Yard. Photo: Glen Carr
- Credit: Archant
A city bar and entertainment venue could be set to lose its premises licence after being accused of breaking Covid-19 regulations the night before the second national lockdown.
Norwich City Council has applied to review the premises licence of Bedfords, on Old Post Office Yard in Norwich, with a hearing over it set to be heard early next year.
It comes following an incident on Wednesday, November 4, the final day pubs and restaurants could trade ahead of the second national lockdown.
In papers submitted with the review application, it is alleged that the venue allowed people to dance and not observe social distancing as it welcomed its final pre-lockdown customers.