Wetherspoon explains how concerns were sparked as football team gathered in South Shields pub

Wetherspoon bosses have explained how concerns were raised about a group of 12 footballers who broke Covid rules by drinking together in its South Shields pub.
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They claimed to the venue they lived in one house, so were allowed to gather together.

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Covid restrictions set out that in the North East, while up to six people can meet outside, including in a beer garden, no households beyond their social bubble should be together inside as part of rules to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

A football team of 12 claimed they lived together as they met up in the Wouldhave to eat and drink - leading them to get police fines for breaching Covid rules.A football team of 12 claimed they lived together as they met up in the Wouldhave to eat and drink - leading them to get police fines for breaching Covid rules.
A football team of 12 claimed they lived together as they met up in the Wouldhave to eat and drink - leading them to get police fines for breaching Covid rules.

The men were given fines of £200 each, which will be reduced to £100 if paid within 14 days, as they were issued by officers on Sunday evening.

It comes as the Government continues to lead talks looking to move the region into tier 3 very high-risk restrictions, with leaders pushing for ministers to allow it to remain in tier 2 high restrictions.

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Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon confirmed the incident happened at the Wouldhave in South Shields and said: “The group had entered the pub and sat down at four separate tables.

"They then ordered food and drink using the pub’s app.

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“Staff check that customers have signed in – via track and trace – and whether they are from the same household when they bring food and drink orders to the table or when they do table service.

“When the drinks were brought to the tables a member of staff noticed that members of the group all had the same football shirt on, having taken off their jackets, and asked if they were from the same household.

“They said they were but the member of staff didn’t believe them and told them that the police would be called and if the police came they would be fined.

“The members of the group chose to stay.

"The police then came and dealt with the matter.”

Northumbria Police, which did not name the pub or the team the men belonged to, issued a warning following the incident saying the group had shown a “flagrant disregard for the rules” in place to prevent the spread of the virus to protect individuals, their family, friends and wider communities.

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