This is why two Preston pubs were forced to close within hours of opening for takeaway service

The Stanley Arms and Market Tavern surprised regulars when their landlord revealed that they would be opening for the first time in nearly three months at the weekend.

The pubs made the announcement via Facebook on Friday evening (June 5), telling thousands of thirsty followers that pints of draught lager would be available to takeaway in plastic cups. Wines and spirits would also be on offer, with the new service available between 12pm and 8pm.

Word quickly got around and cheerful customers gathered outside as thirsts were quenched and conversations flowed.

The pub confirmed that it had been granted permission from the Council's licensing department to serve takeaway drinks, with orders to be taken at the door.

But by 3pm, the pubs' doors had shut and the crowd of happy drinkers had dispersed.

What had happened?

Paul Butcher, landlord of the Stanley Arms since 2017, told the Lancashire Post that a licencing officer had visited the pubs and ordered them to close.

Holding his hands up, Paul said his decision to open for takeaway service had been 'misjudged'.

"We knew it would be a bit contentious to open up as we did, before pubs are officially allowed to, but we thought we had met all the necessary criteria to pull this one off.

"We notified licencing beforehand and we asked whether it would be OK to serve drinks for people to takeaway, and they told us we would be fine.

"I even printed off a copy of the licence and the email from the Council to keep at the bar just in case the police stopped by, which they did. But they didn't see any problem with it.

"Licencing said as long as we didn't provide outdoor seating and we maintained all the appropriate safety measures, we would be covered by our off sales licence.

"But, I admit, we were a bit naive," said Paul.

"We're still relatively new to being licencees, and we hadn't taken into consideration that our customers might want to stick around and enjoy the pub atmosphere.

"As our customers began chatting among themselves outside and enjoying their drinks, the Council became concerned that the conditions for off sales weren't being met.

"I think if everyone had taken their drinks away and out-of-sight from the premises, it might have been a different story. But I don't blame them, I think everyone was just eager for a bit of normality and enjoyed having a pint with each other for the first time since lockdown.

"But we appreciate you can't do this and we completely understand why the Council asked us to stop serving."

Paul said the pubs have a 'fantastic working relationship' with licencing and he had no intention of 'causing a stir'.

"Licencing have been really supportive of us since we first took over the pub, " said Paul.

"They've been incredibly sympathetic to our current situation. We have a great working relationship with them and we would never deliberately jeopardise this."

Paul said that coronavirus and lockdown has led the industry into 'uncharted waters' and pubs are having to 'prepare for the unknown'.

"It might seem like we erred in judgement to open as we did, but we had heard of other pubs opening in this way, and in this industry you always want to be at the front of the pack, so you always have to be on your toes to anticipate what's going to happen next.

"We might have been a bit hasty, but it was a well-intentioned mistake. We encouraged social distancing and we, like other pubs, are just trying to navigate our way through this current mess that we've all found ourselves in.

"We began selling our Sunday roasts again a couple of weeks ago, and they proved so popular, we hoped that this might just be the next step in returning to some sense of normality.

"Even the guidance from the Government is vague. I don't think they have any idea how pubs are supposed to operate in the months to come. We're preparing for the unknown.

"In the end, we're just trying to do everything we can to save our business. It's not going to be easy and nothing's certain at the moment, but we're going to try our very best to pull through, so that we can hopefully still be here for everyone when this is all over."

Preston City Council said it sympathises with pubs and local businesses whose trade continues to be affected by coronavirus. But it said Government advice must be followed without exception as the North West strives to avoid a 'second wave' of the virus.

Councillor Matthew Brown, leader at Preston City Council, said: "We understand the strain that has been placed on local businesses throughout the pandemic and lockdown, but to protect everyone we need to follow the current Government guidelines.

"There is no local discretion for pubs to open and we are all awaiting further updates on this.

"Most premises licences include the retail sale of alcohol for consumption off the premises, i.e. to takeaway. This enables the provision of a takeaway service for food and drink, subject to having social distancing measures in place to protect staff and customers.

"The Coronavirus regulations have made it quite clear that any adjacent area where seating is made available for customers (whether inside or outside) is to be treated as part of the premises of that business. In other words customers cannot be in the vicinity of the venue to enjoy their food and drink."