Monmouth pub warned to improve or face closure

A pub in Monmouth has been handed an improvement notice for failing to follow Welsh Government coronavirus rules.

The Queen’s Head on St James Street has until November 28 to make the necessary improvements or risk closure.

The pub was inspected by a trading standards officer on November 14, who found several breaches of coronavirus regulations, including a lack of social distancing.

The officer observed customers ordering from the bar area and those using the pool table were not wearing face coverings or seated when drinking.

The improvement notice says the pub did not allocate a limited time period for customers stay at the venue and that the time of arrival was not recorded.

Monmouthshire County Council, like each of Wales’ 22 local authorities, has been given power by the Welsh Government to issue improvement or closure notices to businesses which fail to comply with Covid-19 safety guidelines.

The venues will be re-inspected in due course, at which point either the improvement notices will be dropped, or further action could be considered, which could include a closure notice.