Inspectors from Liverpool city council visited 70 pubs, bars, restaurants, cafes and coffee shops over the weekend to check measures to minimise the spread of COVID-19 were in place. Tony McDonough reports
A spot check on 70 pubs, bars, restaurants, cafes and coffee shops in Liverpool has found almost total compliance on COVID-safe measures.
City council inspectors visited the venues over Friday, Saturday and Sunday last weekend and discovered 95.7% of those premises inspected have implemented COVID-safe measures to protect staff and customers.
Only three premises did not reach the satisfactory standards, whereas 67 businesses had clear policies in place which included social distancing, the availability of hand sanitizer, and track and trace was implemented.
Any music being played was at an acceptable noise level and there was no evidence of vertical drinking, meaning that people were not standing up drinking and all customers were seated.
The three premises that were not fully complying with the guidance were issued advice which they immediately followed – these included spacing out tables and turning the volume of music down.
At every venue visited, the team took the opportunity to talk to staff and management about the new government guidelines which came in to force on Tuesday, restricting the hospitality industry to table service and will see venues close from 10pm to 5am.
Across the weekend the licensing team also visited taxi ranks in Stanley Street, Ranelagh Street, Hanover Street, Great Charlotte Street, Dawson Street and North John Street. All vehicles were checked and no issues were found at the time of the team’s visits. Market traders were also inspected and again, no issues were found.
Chair of Liverpool’s Licensing Committee, Cllr Christine Banks, said: “The results from the weekend are massively reassuring and shows that businesses are taking this situation seriously and are putting the health of their customers and their staff first.
“As COVID-19 cases rise in the city we all must play our part in reducing the spread of the virus. We want people to continue to go out and enjoy themselves, and it’s essential that when they do, they are visiting a restaurant, pub or bar – that business is doing everything it can to reinforce the Government’s measures.
“The team will continue to be out and about as we all get to grips with the new rules, and will be on hand to work with businesses and give them any help and advice they need.”