BEERS are being sold from a nightclub on Brighton seafront.
A vendor is offering ‘two beers for a fiver’ amid the coronavirus lockdown.
The alcohol is being dispensed from a hatch at The Arch Nightclub in the Kings Road Arches.
People are sitting on beachfront walls and a large queue has formed stretching along the seafront.
There is a sign outside offering two beers for a fiver and music including songs by Fatboy Slim is being played on the speakers. The Carlsberg is being sold in plastic cups.
Police have now spoken to a manager at the premises, suggesting that he put up signs advising people not to gather.
The Arch manager Albie Saliba said: “We’ve opened under government guidelines using social distancing on queuing, no benches and takeaway only.
“We’re trying to bring a little bit of normality back."
When asked why he is open and others businesses are not, he said:
“We have a takeaway licence and we’re only a takeaway service. We’ve spoken to all the authorities including the police and the council.
“We’re trying to work in difficult times, we’re trying our best to bring back normality and we’re fully compliant with all social distancing.”
Police approached one group outside and asked if they belonged to the same household.
They laughed and replied: “Yeah”.
Government guidance about businesses was updated on May 13.
It stipulates that restaurants and public houses, wine bars or other food and drink establishments including within hotels and members’ clubs, such as dining rooms, must remain closed.
But the guidance states there are exceptions: "Food delivery and takeaway can remain operational. This can be a new activity supported by the new permitted development rights in England. This covers the provision of hot or cold food that has been prepared for consumers for collection or delivery to be consumed, reheated or cooked by consumers off the premises."
Food delivery and takeaway can remain operational at cafés and canteens.
The guidance says: "Cafés and canteens at hospitals, police and fire services’ places of work, care homes or schools; prison and military canteens; services providing food or drink to the homeless may remain open."
All retail premises, other than those exempt, must close their premises to members of the public, the guidance states.
Exemptions in the Government guidance include:
• Food retailers, including supermarkets
• Dental services, opticians, audiology services, chiropody, chiropractors, osteopaths and other medical or health services (including physiotherapy and podiatry services), and services relating to mental health
• Pharmacies and chemists, including non-dispensing pharmacies
• Petrol stations
• Bicycle shops
• Homeware, building supplies and hardware stores, including where those stores supply equipment for hire
• Garden centres and plant nurseries
• Veterinary surgeries and pet shops
• Agricultural supplies shops
• Convenience stores, corner shops and newsagents
• Off-licences and licensed shops selling alcohol, including those within breweries
• Laundrettes and dry cleaners
• Post offices
• Taxi or vehicle hire businesses
• Car repair and MOT services
• Car parks
• Banks, building societies, short-term loan providers, credit unions, savings clubs, cash points, currency exchange offices, businesses for the transmission of money, and businesses which cash cheques.
• Storage and distribution facilities, including delivery drop off or collection points where they are on the premises of any of the above businesses
• Public toilets
• Shopping centres may stay open but only units of the types listed above may trade
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