Police find drinkers hiding in cupboards after raiding pub 'breaking lockdown'

STUNNED cops found drinkers hiding in cupboards after raiding a pub suspected of breaking the coronavirus lockdown.

Officers were shocked when they found the punters at the Pitsmoor Hotel in Sheffield after reports staff were still serving drinks inside.

The pub has now been forced to shut after being slapped with a prohibition order by South Yorkshire Police and Sheffield City Council.

Police said the pub's alcohol licence is now under review.

John O'Malley, Liquor Licensing Manager at South Yorkshire Police, said: "On Friday night, officers attended the premises and found a number of people hiding in cupboards, the pub was clearly still open for business.

"What makes this more significant is that the licence holder has already been served a prohibition notice under the legislation for another premise, The Staffordshire Arms on Sorby Street.

"Licences for both venues are now under review by ourselves and Sheffield City Council, so there could be long-term implications for these businesses."

PUBS ON LOCKDOWN

In March, pubs and bars were ordered to shut until as the UK was plunged into covid-19 lockdown.

Police were granted power, under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, to revoke operating licences for different types of venues if they weren't following the Government's measures.

Last week it emerged that pubs would be the last to reopen when the lockdown measures are eased.

A government advisor has since suggested that pub gardens should be reopened – as long as customers can continue to carry out social distancing.

Professor Robert Dingwall has said it is time to relax the strict lockdown rules.

He told BBC Radio 4’s Today: “If it is a sunny weekend afternoon and the pub has a garden and the landlords are prepared to accept responsibility for not overcrowding that garden, I see no particular reason why it should not reopen."

Prof Dingwall added: “There's never been a scientific basis for two metres, it's kind of a rule of thumb. But it's not like there is …rigorous scientific literature that it is founded upon."

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