Three pubs shut due to coronavirus cases just days after reopening

Three pubs which reopened their doors for the first time on Saturday have had to close again after customers tested positive for coronavirus.

There were scenes of celebration in England over the weekend as the country ended three months of coronavirus lockdown, on what was dubbed "Super Saturday".

But three establishments have alerted visitors that they have had to close again just days later after customers tested positive for Covid-19.

The Lighthouse Kitchen and Carvery in Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset, said a customer had tested positive and it was making its way through a list of people who were in the bar on Saturday.

In a statement posted on Facebook, it said: "This isn’t the message we wanted to write so soon but The Lighthouse will be closed due to a customer testing positive to Covid-19.

"We are slowly getting through our list of customers that were in the pub on Saturday. All our staff are going to be tested and we will re open when the time is safe to do so."

The Fox and Hounds in Batley, West Yorkshire, said it would be closed until further notice after receiving a call from a customer on Monday to say they had tested positive for coronavirus.

Posting on its Facebook page, it said all staff had since taken a test and added that the pub will be “fully deep cleaned and when safe to do so we will reopen our doors”.

The Village Home Pub in Alverstoke, Gosport, said it had also “had a case of Coronavirus in the pub”, adding that “some of us are in isolation”.

Its statement on Facebook said: “The pub is now shut but all being well will open again on Saturday.

"Anyone who was in the pub over the weekend there is no need to isolate unless you show symptoms or are contacted direct by the trace group. Thank you and hope to see you soon."

It comes as Downing Street said police forces reported being “quieter than expected” after pubs and restaurants were allowed to reopen.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “I think far and away the vast majority of people acted in a safe, sensible and responsible manner and as I understand it many police forces across England reported a quieter than expected evening with few arrests.

“We would urge people not to overdo it. This was a cautious step towards opening more of our economy and it does look like the vast majority of people acted in a sensible and responsible way.”

Asked whether Boris Johnson was concerned about busy scenes seen in some places, the spokesman added: “As I say, overall people did act in a responsible way.

“There were a small number of individual incidents but my understanding is that numerous police forces reported a quieter than expected weekend.”

Downing Street said the Prime Minister thought the change to "one metre-plus" social distancing restrictions had worked in allowing the hospitality sector to reopen.

The spokesman said: "I think you’ve seen images up and down the country of the lengths which restaurants, cafes, pubs all went to to ensure their customers could enjoy a drink or a meal in a Covid-secure way.

"And, as I said, in the overwhelming number of cases, the public – aided by the advice – behaved responsibly."

The PM’s spokesman added that the infection rate was being monitored "all the time".