Nightclub ordered to close after coronavirus concerns

A Bridgend town centre nightclub has been ordered to close for 14 days after failing to comply with an improvement notice on how it manages social distancing and queuing.

Managers at the Eden Bar and Lounge in Market Street have been told the nightclub can possibly reopen sooner as long as urgent measures are implemented to help keep people safe from potential exposure to the coronavirus.

The nightclub had previously been served with a premises improvement notice following a visit by enforcement officers from the Shared Regulatory Service. The closure notice was issued after a follow-up visit revealed that the required improvements had not taken place.

The notice means that the venue must not reopen for either 14 days, at which point another visit will be made by enforcement officers, or until the Shared Regulatory Service is satisfied that the improvements are in place.

Under current Welsh Government regulations, businesses such as nightclubs must take all reasonable measures to ensure that a two-metre distance is maintained between people who are either on the premises or are waiting to go inside.

They must also provide suitable information staff and customers on how to minimise the risk of exposure to the virus, and take other reasonable measures such as improving hygiene or minimising face-to-face interaction.

The Shared Regulatory Service, which also covers Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan, is carrying out regular checks on local businesses to ensure that every effort is being made to protect customers and staff from exposure to Covid-19.

Enforcement officers are monitoring compliance, and will not fail to prevent a business from opening if they are found to be ignoring or not taking their responsibilities seriously on staff and customer safety. However, such closures will always be a last resort, and it has been really good to see that the vast majority of premises visited by enforcement officers in areas ranging from Bettws and Blaengarw to Bridgend and Porthcawl have all been fully compliant.

Our Shared Regulatory Service is available to offer expert advice, and we would much prefer to work with businesses to ensure they are meeting the requirements of the legislation, and are supporting efforts to keep people safe.

Councillor Dhanisha Patel, whose portfolio includes Shared Regulatory Services

Visit the Welsh Government coronavirus webpage for up-to-date information for employers in Wales.