More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
Pub and bar owners have defended their working practices after finding themselves the subject of social media attention.
As another sunny weekend hit during the coronavirus lockdown in Kent, many people have taken to Facebook and Twitter to call out those businesses they feel are not doing enough to honour the rules of social distancing.
These principles state we cannot mix with people outside our immediate home, can only go out to buy essential food or drink or do one hour of exercise a day. Everyone should also keep at least two metres apart to stop the potential spread of the virus.
But it means some people have questioned what they see as a flouting of these guidelines. But venue owners have had their say and insist they are doing nothing wrong.
KentOnline was sent a picture of four people sat around a table in a beer garden at The Milk House in Sissinghurst. The image was taken yesterday.
Sarah Allchorne, who runs the pub alongside her husband Dane, says the four people pictured are members of staff who have been working during the lockdown.
The tavern has been providing free meals to vulnerable villagers while also operating a takeaway service open to the public.
Mrs Allchorne said: "The same four members of staff have been working at the pub during the lockdown and we have been very strict on that - we have too much to lose to make mistakes.
"They were sitting down to eat their lunch, hence why they were not wearing gloves at the time.
"We are just trying to help the local community and keep the business going, delivering free meals and offering a takeaway service, and the staff were just taking a lunch break."
The man who submitted the photo, Kelvin Griggs, also of Sissinghurst, said: "It is quite a concern, the members of staff were huddled around a table and not wearing any gloves. I'm concerned as they are then also delivering meals to the elderly.
"There's a big, long table in the middle of the garden which they could sit around instead, which would mean they could be two metres apart.
"I've tried to speak to the owner and posted the photo on their Facebook page but it was deleted."
Cllr Andy Fairweather of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council said: "They should be left alone, they are providing a community service and are just trying to stay afloat like many other pubs in the area."
Parkerville ale house in Herne Bay, found itself the subject of a Facebook post by a user who said they were 'fuming' at seeing its take-out service and saying it encouraged people to gather.
Mark Parkin, owner of the pub, said: "Everything we're doing is completely legal and above board - we're only open two hours, and we have a licence as an off-licence.
"The beer we're offering can't be bought from supermarkets, and we're only serving people one at a time, and only if they bring their own bottles.
"The police have been in twice, and they are more than happy with everything.
"Regarding queues, the only one I know of was one I was told about this week, which was around about 7pm - when we weren't even open."
Advice on the gov.uk website states business owners should only take orders online and over the phone and when orders are ready customers should only go into a premises one at a time.
It adds firms should discourage crowding outside a venue.
However, where people stop to eat and drink is an issue which hit the headlines last month when crowds flocked to Whitstable.
Many were pictured on the beachfront after visiting the Whitstable Oyster Company. This was on the weekend just before Britain was ordered into a full lockdown, but pubs, bars, gyms and clubs had been told to close.
The company was operating a legal takeway business, but 'apologised unreservedly' saying it had not intended to encourage or facilitate people gathering together, but said when it realised that had been the case, it could only apologise.
It shut all of its takeaway premises until further notice.
And the owners of Makcari’s in cafe Central Parade, Herne Bay, also launched a staunch defence of their business after pictures appeared to show the venue serving ice cream from a hatch. It said it was only open for takeaways and home deliveries - with Canterbury City Council saying these activities are not illegal, as long as adequate social distancing measures are in place.
A city council spokesman said: “The majority of complaints have been about premises offering food and drink to take away and all have been operating within the rules even if the public feels those rules should be tighter.”
