Dozens of revellers gather on the street minutes before Government's 10pm curfew

[dutchman]

A crowd left through the main doors with many gathering outside as Covid-19 restrictions take effect



Dozens of revellers spilled out of the front doors of a busy town centre bar minutes before the Government’s 10pm curfew kicked in.

Around 30 people then mingled outside in the street despite the rain after the exodus in Leamington last night (Saturday, October 3).

Some danced and chanted “s*** on the Villa” before two street marshalls broke up the crowd outside Altoria in Warwick Street.

The latest restrictions aimed at slowing a rise in Covid-19 cases across England means pubs, bars and restaurants have to close by 10pm.

However in this case it resulted in many leaving via the front doors at around 9.45pm.

There is no suggestion of wrong-doing by the bar.

A passer-by, who asked not to be named, said: “There was a crush to get through the narrow front doors and then people just hung around in the street outside.

"There was no sign of social distancing whatsoever and a crowd formed, with people just mingling and some chanting football songs.

“There were about thirty people hanging round outside and in the end it was left to two street wardens to try and move the crowd on.”

The pictures emerged after Warwickshire Police said it was in the process of fining people who attended two parties in the town on Friday night and warned it would take a firm line on other breaches.

[rebbonk]

This was always going to happen. Bozo hasn't got a bl**dy clue. The pubs and clubs had largely worked together and staggered their closing times so groups didn't gather and everyone wasn't out on the street at the same time or getting on public transport together.

Political interference, nothing else, has caused this!

[dutchman]

Police move in as 150 revellers gather outside bars after 10pm curfew



Police moved in after more than 150 revellers gathered in the street shortly after the 10pm curfew last night (Saturday, October 10).

Six officers took part in an arrest after bundling a man to the floor as a boisterous crowd gathered in Leamington town centre.

None of the revellers were wearing face coverings above the chin or observing social distancing in line with restrictions aimed at preventing the spread of Covid-19.

Most of those present appeared to be in their late teens.

It is the second weekend in a row when a large crowd has gathered in and around a junction on Warwick Street close to a number of pubs and bars.

Street marshalls were also involved in trying to move the crowd on.

An eyewitness said: “There was a huge crowd which was mainly concentrated outside Altoria at first, there were at least a hundred people or so and many more people in a side street.

"One girl had birthday balloons and it looked like there had been a big party somewhere involving older teenagers.

“The police kept an eye from a distance at first but one man looked liked he was lashing out in a side street and it soon transpired that the crowd was in no hurry to go anywhere.

“There were around a dozen officers and a marked van and several cars.

“They were forced to intervene at the top of the side street when troubled flared with the aggressive male and then a few minutes later they made an arrest further down outside a car park.

“It took six officers to bundle a man to the ground and march him off.

“There was no sign of anyone in the crowd wearing a mask other than on the chin and they were shouting, blocking the road and generally acting like they’d had a lot to drink.

“The officers seemed content to just wait it out and let the crowd disperse of its own accord.”

[martin]

From what I read in the Coventry Telegraph, Warwickshire Police Force appear to be much more active in monitoring social gathering and taking action. There are very few reports about West Midlands Police Force. Around Coventry, I have yet to see any enforcement of the "Rule of Six", wearing face coverings, etc either from the police or council/CV1 patrols. Just what's going on? We paid a higher precept on our council taxes for WM Police - where is it being spent? The WMPCC has been a total waste of taxpayers' money.

[dutchman]

Police charge man over trouble as crowd gathered outside bars after curfew

Police have charged a man after making three arrests as a large crowd gathered in Leamington town centre shortly after curfew on Saturday night.

Warwickshire Police confirmed today that officers made three arrests on the night:

• A 22-year-old man from Nuneaton was arrested in Tavistock Street on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly and later issued with a penalty notice
  
• A 31-year-old man from Wolverhampton was cautioned for assault
  
• Mark-Anthony Ramsay, 32, from Duckett Place, Whitnash, Leamington, was charged with assault to appear before Warwickshire Magistrates on October 20

[rebbonk]

The WMPCC has been a total waste of taxpayers' money.

Jamieson is a failed politician. He's been a complete waste of (expensive) space. Thompson and O'Hara don't exactly inspire confidence.

[Melisandre]

None are worth listening to their advisers who they listen to are the scientist s etc that work for the pharmaceutical companys who wish to sell their vacines Sir Vallance is part of the pharmaceutical company .
Florida has gone back to normal life with no more cases than before when they were locked down.

[dutchman]

Coventry bar boss says 10pm curfew will harm country more than venues



More than 150 people took to Coventry city centre protesting the government imposed 10pm curfew and in support of the nightlife industry.

Since September 24, pubs, restaurants and bars have been forced to empty their premises at 10pm in a bid to help stop the spread of coronavirus, particularly among younger people.

It served as a fresh blow to venues that had already suffered temporary closures during the first lockdown and managing the knock-on effect of implementing social distancing measures and the reduced appetite for people to return to eating and dining out.

But protest organiser Rob Hall said the curfew 'hurts the country more than it hurts us'.

The #LetTheMusicPlay demonstration was held in Broadgate on Sunday (October 11).

Business owners, staff and DJs were among the group that stood silently for 30 minutes before holding a round of applause at 3pm.

Organiser Rob Hall, marketing manager at Coventry venues Samoan Joes, Heat and Teezers Golf, said: "A lot of us hadn't seen each other for months and months, so it was a case of rebuilding old links and maybe forging new ones. A lot of introductions happened for DJs, for staff etc, because you never know when you could forge another positive business link moving forward."

"There's been the well-publicised problems once they're out of the venue. People hitting off-licences, anti-social behaviour, I've seen some of it in Leamington, we as venue operators our job is to get them onto the street but the problem is, once they're on the street and causing anti-social behaviour, do we still go out and try and manage it the best that we can or do we sort of let it go? It's a strange time, you don't want to ruin peoples' fun but ultimately, that fun could impact on your business if they're stood outside of it."

[Melisandre]

From listening to radio channels on line you tube there no valid reason given to why 10 o clock was choosen even a leek to a Liverpool councilor or MP cant recall which in the news they have no valid reason for this 10 o clock closer.

[dutchman]

Boris makes a surprise appearance in Coventry - but not as you might imagine



Boris Johnson has made a surprise appearance in a Coventry bar - but not as you might imagine.

The Yard Coventry is using a cheeky cut-out of the Prime Minister to make an important point about the 10pm curfew hitting the hospitality industry.

The award-winning LGBT+ venue in Bull Yard commissioned a life-size cut-out of Boris to help get their message across.

The cut-out is of a somewhat portly Prime Ministerial figure in a t-shirt that looks a few sizes too small, with one hand on his hip and the other holding a pint.

The t-shirt bears the slogan ‘Out By 10!’.

Customers are being invited to take their picture with the Boris cut-out and share to help spread the word that the 10pm curfew is not good for the hospitality business.

Darren Piper, general manager of The Yard, said: “It was very much an if you don’t laugh, you’ll cry scenario.

“As you may see with many other displays we have, we like to get our point across in a way that makes people smile.

“We were toying with the idea of photoshopping him sitting at the bar, then we thought why not go one step further and have a cardboard cut-out to make people smile and laugh.

“We put the image together one night and sent it to a company who were able to produce it for us

“I can imagine it put a smile on their faces on the production line.”