Also in the same article, a couple of lines about this pub. Watch them promise to disobey the law, but back down after a friendly word from Staffordshire police. They seem to be "fighting back" for the right reasons, and I have a lot of sympathy with what they were trying to do, but it's so easy for them to be ignored (council, MP) or slapped down (police). Some interesting conversations on their Facebook page, if you have the time and the stomach for it.
Come On You Hatters!
Lots of pubs near me have purpose-built front beer patios with no security to keep people out. Locals are going to the nearest off licence then sitting at the patios' picnic tables. The police cruise past and don't do anything...
If a fine works, perhaps the pub will rename itself as The Reformed?
The offence is being in the company of more than one person not from your household. What invites a lawyerly discussion is whether the owners of the tables and land upon which they are placed are liable for letting it happen
Would the council be liable if such a meeting took place on its park benches?
"Do I know where hell is? hell is in hello"
Very good points and certainly these people are very definitely not from the same household.
I don't know who would be responsible. If people can't travel, then they can't tend to their property and it's not just open front pub patios that are being used, people are buying drinks and congregating outside pubs on the pavement. The Cat & Mutton, despite having removed its pavement picnic tables, hasn't deactivated its patio heat lamps so people are congregating outside, bathed in a warm orange glow!
The Cow : now has the left-hand window open with a Guinness tap selling to people in 'sealed?' containers - I saw a bloke walking away with a two-litre plastic milk bottle full of the black stuff. I'm not sure if this leaves an aftertaste, perhaps milk stout?