Wigan pub closes after customers ignore 'substantial meal' rules

The Shamrock, in Standish, started serving meals including fish and chips and burger and chips on Friday (October 23) in a bid to stay open.

But it made the decision to shut after finishing service on Saturday (October 24) after some pub-goers flouted the rules.

The pub will review its decision to close in a few weeks time when Greater Manchester's Tier Three restrictions are reviewed.

Around ten people had come into the pub saying they were going to have a meal, only to not eat and just drink pints instead, with one woman even putting a meal into a takeaway box.

The new government guidelines state that in areas at the very high local Covid alert level, pubs and bars "can only remain open where they operate as if they were a restaurant."

And that means "serving substantial meals, like a main lunchtime or evening meal. They may only serve alcohol as part of such a meal."

It has forced owners Jim and Fiona Harrison to have to close the doors of the pub for the time being, just two months after they had opened it.

Fiona said: "We had people coming in expecting to sit there all night with no food and buying drinks, it's just not the rules.

"Customers have to sit down and eat a substantial meal for them to have a drink otherwise we can't open.

"There must have been around ten people who we allowed to come in and order food who sat drinking while choosing not to eat food we'd made. One woman even put a meal into a takeaway box.

This prompted Fiona and Jim to have to make the diffcult decision to have to close the pub.

She said: "It's a real shame as we were selling things such as burger and chips and fish and chips and sharing platters which were complying with the guidelines and people were asked to phone up and book a table. We did it as we wanted to try and stay open after only opening two months ago.

"But some people weren't following the rules so we made the decision we have done. At the end of the day, this is our livelihood and our family home and we can't afford to lose everything, so we're closing for now and will review things in a couple of weeks when the restrictions are looked at again.

"Sadly I think a lot of pubs will struggle and have to close right now."

Drinkers had been left dismayed in January when the pub closed its doors. But the Preston Road boozer opened once more at the end of August after Jim and Fiona stepped in and took on the lease, so the latest news will come as a real hammer blow.