Haverhill pub fined for breaching Covid-19 rules
The company and its director will have to pay over £3,000 in fines and costs
The owners of a Haverhill pub will have to pay over £3,000 in fines and costs after being found guilty of breaching Covid-19 restrictions.
West Suffolk Council took NJ Bistros director Daniel Pilley to court for serving food and drink indoors at the Nine Jars on three dates in April 2021.
The firm and its director pleaded not guilty to all three counts. They were found guilty of two of the charges and cleared of a third.
They were handed a £2,000 fine and ordered to pay costs of £1,240 at Ipswich Magistrates Court earlier this week (June 22).
The court also ordered NJ Bistros to pay a £200 victim surcharge.
Councillor Andy Drummond, a West Suffolk Council cabinet member, said:
“These Government regulations were put in place to try to protect people and to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 so that the daily life that we all took for granted, such as meeting family and getting back to business, could return as quickly as possible.
“Councils were tasked with enforcing these rules which we did but, as with this case, before any prosecution was considered we always gave advice and support to help businesses to comply.
"Prosecution is always a last resort, and we welcome the court’s decision.”