Hillingdon Council has issued fines totalling £5,000 to three bars and restaurants who broke COVID-19 rules.
Enforcement officers carrying out routine inspections this month found three venues breaching the rules set out by the government. All three were operating outside of the 10pm curfew, while two were found crowded with no social distancing measures in place.
A shisha lounge in Hayes that was reported to have hosted a large gathering of around 200 people was fined £3,000 for three breaches after an inspection on Saturday 10 October.
This included operating outside the 10pm curfew, not displaying NHS COVID-19 QR posters and allowing large gatherings with no social distancing measures. The business was also allowing people to smoke shisha in an enclosed environment.
On Saturday 17 October, another shisha bar in Hayes and a restaurant in Ruislip, were found operating outside the 10pm curfew. The restaurant had around 50 people eating and drinking inside. Both were fined £1,000 for the offences.
Cllr Sir Ray Puddifoot, Leader of Hillingdon Council, said: “With COVID-19 infections rising, we cannot allow lives to be put at risk by careless businesses who think they can flout the law. It’s the job of our officers to protect the public from harm, and thanks to their quick actions, that’s exactly what they’ve done.
“The unacceptable and reckless behaviour of these businesses could have potentially put hundreds of people at risk of being infected by allowing large gatherings and close contact. I’d like to thank the majority of venues who are operating legitimately – but we will continue our clampdown on those who think they are above the law.”
(Source: Hillingdon Council)
