London borough shuts restaurant over Covid-19 breaches

The London Borough of Bromley has closed a restaurant in Orpington after breaches of Covid-19 restrictions.

This case appears to be one of few so far where a council has taken such action, though there have been cases in Stockport and Southampton of police closing premises.

Bromley said its application for a three months’ closure order against the Greek Meze restaurant has been adjourned pending a full hearing in October at Bromley Magistrates Court, and the restaurant would remain shut until then.

It said this followed repeated breaches of Covid-19 guidance, premises licence conditions and warnings from the council’s public protection and licensing team, which resulted in a community protection notice.

Kate Lymer, Bromley's Executive Councillor for Public Protection and Enforcement, said: “Closing a business is not what we want to see but it is absolutely vital that we all get this right. 

“Taking this enforcement action was the last resort and we continue to seek to work with this business to ensure they comply with the regulations. Businesses and residents should be in no doubt that we cannot and will not take risks where there are public health and safety concerns.”  

The council said it acted after a number of visits by public protection officers to investigate complaints about lack of social distancing measures.

Greek Meze’s managers then failed to comply with the community protection notice including by allowing loud music and dancing, while “making no attempts” to enforce social distancing, the council claimed.