Open and shut case for neighbouring pubs under Lancashire's new lockdown

Yet from midnight tonight the two near-neighbours will graphically highlight the great divide for licensed premises under Lancashire's new Covid lockdown.

As a Tier 3 area, pubs and bars will have to close for the foreseeable future - unless they serve "substantial" meals with their drinks.

At the Golden Ball food is always on the menu and so the hostelry is allowed to stay open as long as customers are eating.

Nearby the Red Lion is purely a "wet" pub and live music venue, so it will have to shut.

"It's absolutely heartbreaking for the pubs which have to close," said Chris Wilson, manager of the Golden Ball. "Like us they've put their heart and soul into the business and you've got to feel for them."

Up the road at the Red Lion, landlady Anne Hardacre only took over in July and has had just 14 weeks of trade before having to close her doors after last orders tonight.

"We don't do food, so there's not a lot we can do about it," she said. "It was to be expected I suppose.

"I'd prepared myself because I thought it was going to happen. We've not had long, but we've enjoyed what we've had.

"We've just got to go with it and hope it isn't for long. But we'll be back."

The Government announcement that Lancashire's Covid status would be lifted up to the "very high" risk level came this morning. But although the new lockdown will be reviewed on a regular basis, there is currently no time limit.

At the Golden Ball, owner Chris Buckley had pre-empted the decision by announcing a "household dining offer" yesterday. For £10 customers can have a main course and a drink.

"Whether we were in Tier 2 or Tier 3 we expected we would still be able to open because we do food, in fact we focus on food," he said.

"But you can only come and sit at a table with your own household. That's the rule. We can also do takeaways."

The menu has some subtle twists to be topical - Rishi relish with the cheeseburger and Boris beef brisket with mash.

Manager Chris Wilson added: "However unpopular the restrictions are going to be, I personally think it's necessary.

"We're in the middle of a pandemic and we have to do something."