London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Jul 10, 2025

Restaurant shut after holding wedding reception for 100 people in lockdown town

Restaurant shut after holding wedding reception for 100 people in lockdown town

A restaurant that hosted a large wedding reception has been shut down for a ‘significant breach’ of coronavirus restrictions.

Waheed’s Buffet and Banqueting Hall, in Blackburn, Lancashire, was hosting a reception for 100 people on Sunday evening when police arrived to break it up. Police posted on Facebook saying the incident was ‘disappointing’ and that the event put ‘everyone attending at risk’, as it urged the public to stick to guidelines.

Blackburn with Darwen is one of several areas in the north west that is still under some of the strictest lockdown rules in the country, with restrictions imposed on social visits. The council said that as a ‘last resort’ the restaurant was closed on Monday by using new powers to tackle premises that are breaching restrictions.

The closure is in place for a month but will be reviewed weekly and premises will be able to reopen if they can show they are Covid-safe, the authority said.

Waheed’s issued an apology on Monday, saying it had carried out temperature checks on entry and while bosses support the government measures, they were ‘very upset’ to be shut down.

It added: ‘We are at the heart of the local community and can unexpectedly become very busy. The customers who came as part of the event did not all come together.



‘As the number of customers grew, we moved some of the customers into our banqueting hall. We ensured that each table was following social distancing, and we took the contact numbers for track and trace’.

Another venue, Roberto’s Bar and Bistro, was also closed by the public protection team, a council spokesman said.

Lancashire Constabulary Superintendent Andrea Barrow said they understand that ‘times are currently difficult’ for businesses but wanted to be ‘really clear’ that police will enforce rules when they need to, ‘especially around repeat offenders, significant gatherings and people who deliberately flout the regulations and put others at risk’.

Deputy council leader Phil Riley said that government restrictions ‘must be followed’ to avoid harsher lockdown rules.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
NVIDIA Achieves Historic Milestone as First Company Valued at $4 Trillion
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of X After Two Years
US Imposes New Tariffs on Brazilian Exports Amid Political Tensions
Azerbaijan and Armenia are on the brink of a historic peace deal.
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Weinstein Victim’s Lawyer Says MeToo Movement Still Strong
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
Labour Expected to Withdraw Support for Special Needs Funding Model
Leaked Audio Reveals Tory Aide Defending DEI Record
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
×