Some pubs in Tier 2 locations across the UK have identified a loophole that lets punters drink without a “substantial meal” by offering live music tickets.
The loophole – which is seeing venues across the country now taking to social media to lure customers as they try to save their businesses after the second national lockdown – means alcohol can still be served in the COVID-secure venues.
This is provided that punters have a ticket for the live music event, and they drink it at their seat.
Under the UK government’s new regional three tiered system, the “substantial meal” clause does not apply “where alcohol is being provided to a customer at a cinema, theatre, concert hall or sportsground.”
But the loophole adds that alcohol needs to be “ordered by, and served to, a customer who has a ticket for an exhibition of a film, a performance or an event of training or competition at the venue, to consume in the area where the audience is seated to watch the exhibition, performance or event.”
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Making the most of the loophole, The Horns – a popular pub in Watford – wrote on Facebook: “We will be ticketing Friday, Saturday, Sunday live music events for £3. This also means we CAN SERVE YOU ALCOHOL WITHOUT FOOD at any of our weekends gigs.
“Tickets will be sold on the door on a first come first serve basis.”
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The Cavern Freehouse in South London also took to social media to say it would be offering music as “it’s backs against the wall time now and we are struggling to survive”.
The pub wrote: “We will be selling tickets to get in on the door on the night. Doors open at 5pm, bands start at 8pm and bar closes at 10pm. No food is now required. I would suggest people get here early as it will get full very quickly as I’m limited to 50 people.
“No bookings, it’s a first come basis.
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“If you are someone that nurses half a lager all night then I would please ask you not to come as I’m trying to survive here and that place could be taken by someone that understands that”.
While the guidelines originally stated that alcohol could only be served as part of a “substantial meal”, the Music Venue Trust argued that 92% of grassroots music venues do not have the ability to provide that, thus now welcoming this revised decision to allow alcohol sales through the purchase of a ticket as equivalent to the purchase of a meal.
Mark Davyd – CEO of Music Venue Trust – said he was “delighted” with the outcome.
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For the latest information, guidance and support during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in the UK, please do refer to official sources at gov.uk/coronavirus.
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Home Bargains has announced a special two-day closure of all UK stores
Emily Sergeant
Home Bargains has, once again, announced it’ll be closing all its UK stores on both Boxing Day and New Year’s Day this year.
And it’s to make sure staff get a ‘well deserved break’.
After what has been yet another busy year for the retail industry, many workers have been left feeling like they could do with a little extra time off, which is why Home Bargains is following on with what has become a now-annual tradition by shutting up shop on two bank holidays.
All of our stores will be closing for Boxing Day & New Years Day.
Announcing the move in a post on social media, the discount retailer confirmed: “All of our stores will be closing for Boxing Day and New Years Day. We would like to thank all our colleagues for how hard you have worked this past year, and want you to relax and enjoy the Christmas break with your loved ones.”
Of course, this isn’t the first time the retailer has kept its doors shut on bank holidays.
Many shoppers will recall it has made the same decision to give hardworking staff a break every year since 2019.
Explaining a little more about the decision taken to close all its stores, Home Bargains said: “As a family-run business, we know the importance of being together at Christmas with those we care about most, now more than ever.
“This is our way of saying thank you to our colleagues for their continued hard work and dedication.”
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Two Greggs in Manchester will be serving their breakfast menu in the evening next week
Emily Sergeant
Who says breakfast has to end at 11am?
In news that’s set to be music to the ears of breakfast lovers in Manchester, Greggs is giving them exactly what they want.
We all know that brunch is a ‘thing’ by now, so now it’s time for brinner to make a name for itself instead, as Greggs has teamed up with Heinz to bring its much-loved breakfast menu back for tea time, kicking off from 4pm onwards.
The move comes as a new survey has found that the majority of Mancs (69%) admit to enjoying eating breakfast food in the evening, saying it’s ‘convenient and comforting’ – even ranking breakfast as a ‘more important’ meal than tea, as well (38% vs 36%).
Two Greggs in Manchester will be serving their breakfast menu in the evening next week / Credit: Greggs (Supplied)
Greggs says it has ‘lost count’ of the amount of customers that have tried to order breakfast items after the usual cut-off time, especially in Greater Manchester.
But luckily for those breakfast-loving Mancs, they can finally get their favourite breakfast and sauce pairing long after the morning rush is over next… but only at two Greggs branches, and only for a very limited time.
On Wednesday 14 and Thursday 15 October, the Heinz x Greggs Brinner collab will be available at Greggs St Mary’s Gate and Greggs Oxford Road, from 4-7pm only.
“We’ve lost count of the number of customers who have tried their luck ordering breakfast after 11am, so when Heinz came to us with the idea of making Brinner a reality, it felt like the perfect excuse to give the people what they want,” explained Zoe Harris, who is the Customer Director at Greggs.
“And let’s be honest, a Greggs Bacon Roll just wouldn’t be the same without a squeeze of Heinz Tomato Ketchup.”
The Manc -
8th December 2020 
