London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Sunday, Jul 06, 2025

Meeting others in pubs to be illegal in North East

Meeting others in pubs to be illegal in North East

Lockdown restrictions in north-east England are to be tightened in a bid to halt the rise in Covid-19 cases.

The tougher measures will affect about two million people and were announced by Health Secretary Matt Hancock.

He said mixing between households in any indoor setting, such as pubs and restaurants, will be against the law from Wednesday.

Households in the region had already been advised to avoid mixing but the new ban will be enforced with fines.

Maximum £6,400 fine


Anyone found to be breaking the rules and taking part in an illegal gathering could be dispersed by police, the Department for Health and Social Care said.

Those over 18 can be fined and could face a £200 charge for their first offence, which would be halved if paid within 14 days.

Second offences would incur a £400 fine, which would then double for each subsequent offence up to a maximum of £6,400.

Mr Hancock told the House of Commons that cases in the region had "risen sharply" and the rate of infections was now more than 100 cases per 100,000.

Under the regulations that came into force on 18 September, people in Newcastle, Northumberland, Gateshead, North Tyneside, South Tyneside, Sunderland and County Durham were banned from socialising with other people outside of their own households or support bubbles in private homes and gardens.

They were also advised not to socialise with people outside of their household in any public venue, but that was only guidance and not banned under law.

Pubs, restaurants and other hospitality venues remain limited to table service only and have a 22:00 curfew.



Restrictions imposed in some parts of England, including the North East, have already made it illegal to mix with other households in their homes or gardens, punishable with fines.

What's new is to extend the legal ban to all meetings with other households in indoor public venues, such as pubs and restaurants - that's what will happen from Wednesday in the seven listed areas of the North East.

So to meet someone for a drink or a meal will be in breach of the law. Workplaces won't be affected.

This is the first time in England since the full lockdown began to be eased in May that such extensive legal sanctions have been imposed.

The Department of Health said the imposition of the measures reflected high and rising rates of infection in the region though they appear to have come as a surprise to local council leaders.

Even as MPs debate whether more oversight of government-imposed restrictions is required, health officials have let it be known that further interventions in Merseyside and some other parts of the North West of England may be imminent.

Mr Hancock said: "Unfortunately the number of cases continues to rise sharply.


Northumberland, Newcastle, Sunderland, North and South Tyneside, Gateshead and County Durham council areas are affected


"We know that a large number of these infections are taking place in indoor settings outside the home. And so, at the request of the local councils with whom we have been working closely, we will introduce legal restrictions on indoor mixing between households in any setting."

Mr Hancock did not say whether visits to other households for informal childcare - such as grandparents looking after children - would still be permitted under the revised rules.

Newcastle City Council leader Nick Forbes criticised the Health Secretary for the manner in which the announcement was made.

"While we have been in discussions with the Government on potential further restrictions, the Secretary of State has once again stood up and announced changes without telling us he was about to do so," he said.

"We want to work constructively with the Government but the way these measures are being communicated in headlines and without detail does nothing for public confidence.

"We have demanded clarity on the new restrictions, testing and support for those businesses most affected."

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
U.S. Enacts Sweeping Tax and Spending Legislation Amid Trade Policy Shifts
Football Mourns as Diogo Jota and Brother André Silva Laid to Rest in Portugal
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
London Stock Exchange Faces Historic Low in Initial Public Offerings
A new online platform has emerged in the United Kingdom, specifically targeting Muslim men seeking virgin brides
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
Music Banned by Henry VIII to Be Performed After 500 Years
Steve Coogan Says Working Class Is Being ‘Ethnically Cleansed’
Home Office Admits Uncertainty Over Visa Overstayer Numbers
JD Vance Questions Mandelson Over Reform Party’s Rising Popularity
Macron to Receive Windsor Carriage Ride in Royal Gesture
Labour Accused of ‘Hammering’ Scots During First Year in Power
BBC Head of Music Stood Down Amid Bob Vylan Controversy
Corbyn Eyes Hard-Left Challenge to Starmer’s Leadership
London Tube Trains Suspended After Major Fire Erupts Nearby
Richard Kemp: I Felt Safer in Israel Under Attack Than in the UK
Cyclist Says Police Cited Human Rights Act for Riding No-Handed
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Musk Battles to Protect Tesla Amid Trump Policy Threats
Air France-KLM Acquires Majority Stake in Scandinavian Airlines
UK Educators Sound Alarm on Declining Child Literacy
Shein Fined €40 Million in France Over Misleading Discounts
Brazil’s Lula Visits Kirchner During Argentina House Arrest
Trump Scores Legislative Win as House Passes Tax Reform Bill
Keir Starmer Faces Criticism After Rocky First Year in Power
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
Poland Implements Border Checks Amid Growing Migration Tensions
Political Dispute Escalates Between Trump and Musk
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Amazon Reaches Milestone with Deployment of One Millionth Robot
US Senate Votes to Remove AI Regulation Moratorium from Domestic Policy Bill
Yulia Putintseva Calls for Spectator Ejection at Wimbledon Over Safety Concerns
Jury Deliberations in Diddy Trial Yield Partial Verdict in Serious Criminal Charges
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
King Charles Plans Significant Role for Prince Harry in Coronation
Two Chinese Nationals Arrested for Espionage Activities Against U.S. Navy
Amazon Reaches Major Automation Milestone with Over One Million Robots
Extreme Heat Wave Sweeps Across Europe, Hitting Record Temperatures
×