The Council is encouraging hospitality and accommodation businesses to follow the government guidance on measures to help keep customers and staff safe. This guidance, along with other advice, is available on the council’s website at: www.allerdale.gov.uk/en/coronavirus/reopening-guidance/. The Council has written to over 800 of its licensed premises to remind them of this guidance.  

The guidance includes advice on things like social distancing, cleaning as well as water safety to prevent an outbreak of legionella and waste management.  

The council is also asking all licensed premises to complete a short survey to help it understand the situation, and plan resources, from July 4.  

Council officers are also reminding licensed premises that they are currently unable to place seating, tables or other street furniture on the pavements unless they already have a valid pavement license issued by Cumbria County Council. Licensing officers at Allerdale Borough Council are currently awaiting the passing of new legislation in Parliament which will allow them to issue pavement licenses through a new fast-track process. This legislation is unlikely to pass until later this month. Updates will be issued on the council’s website.

The council is also encouraging any licensed premises that wishes to extend its drinking or dining area into other parts of their property – such as in a marquee on their car park – to check their license carefully. If their license does not allow for this, they will have to apply for a variation on their license. All businesses are encouraged to contact the licensing department on 0303 123 1702. 

To help businesses as they reopen for the first time, and to reassure local residents, council officers will also be joining the police out and about in towns in Allerdale on Saturday night. 

Cllr Jim Lister, Executive member with responsibility for licensing, said:

“This weekend sees perhaps the most comprehensive easing of the lockdown so far. Whilst it is welcome news to see pubs, bars and restaurants reopening and people back to work, we don’t want to undo all the good work and sacrifices we’ve all undertaken to control the spread of the virus so far. Therefore, I’d encourage all businesses to follow the guidance, but also stress to those who do go out on Saturday and over the coming weeks, to behave responsibly and be considerate to staff who will be working hard to meet everyone’s needs.

“Not all pubs and restaurants are reopening on Saturday, and those that do are likely to look and feel a bit different to how they were before the lockdown. Therefore we very much endorse the message from Cumbria Police to plan ahead and know your limits, before going out.” 

The short survey for businesses can be found at: http://ow.ly/3KHj50AnF9W