Legal bid against local lockdown launched
Lord outlined that despite discussions and ongoing calls for data, the trade has not yet been shown any tangible scientific evidence to merit a full closure of the hospitality and entertainment sectors across Greater Manchester.
"We have therefore been left with little choice but to escalate the matter further," he said. "We have now engaged lawyers to begin a judicial review into the legality of the emergency restrictions due to be imposed on the hospitality and entertainment sectors."
Trade backing
"This legal challenge will be led by myself, as night-time economy adviser for Greater Manchester, and is supported by The Night Time Industries Association, the British Beer and Pub Association, JW Lees Brewery, Joseph Holt Brewery, Robinsons Brewery, New River Pub Company, Hawthorn Leisure, and operators across Greater Manchester," Lord continued.
“Namely, Alberts Schloss, 20 Stories, San Carlo, Wood Restaurant, Gusto, Living Ventures, Evuna, The Alchemist, O’Sheas and Atlas Bar."
This comes after owner and CEO of nightclub business G-A-Y Jeremy Joseph launched a legal challenge to the Government’s nationwide 10pm curfew on hospitality venues.
Joseph is looking for a judicial review to have the curfew overturned, which was implemented from Thursday 24 September.
Detrimental impact
His legal team have written to secretary of state Matt Hancock with a formal challenge to the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (England) Regulations 2020 as amended on 24 September to include the nationwide 10pm curfew.
The G-A-Y CEO said: “The 10pm curfew has been detrimental to the hospitality sector including G-A-Y, makes absolutely no sense.
“It does the opposite of protecting people by pushing them onto the street at the same time. They are going from being safe inside venues with staggered closing times to unsafe on overcrowded streets and overloaded public transport.
“This Government has failed to show why the 10pm curfew was put in place and has published no scientific evidence to substantiate its implementation."
