Birthday party garden bar plan opposed over coronavirus fears
Plans for a birthday party for more than 20 guests have been opposed by environmental protection officers – who suspect Covid-19 rules won’t be followed.
Mobile bar business the Vintage Van Company submitted a temporary event notice to serve alcohol at an afternoon event at a house in Ashfurlong Crescent, Sutton Coldfield, on August 2.
But the event was opposed by Birmingham City Council environmental protection officers on the grounds that they could not see how it could comply with the Government’s Covid-19 rules.
Officers also said the application does not state who “will ultimately have responsibility for the implementation of the Covid-19 protection measures”.
Government rules currently state you can only meet up to six people from different households outside. Single adult households can form an exclusive “support bubble” with one other household, and people can also meet in a group of two households, indoors or outdoors.
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A city council licensing sub-committee on Tuesday heard from the applicants for the 21-guest party as well as officers.
Amy Lasok, owner of the Vintage Van Company, told sub-committee members: “We are trying to manage the risk as best we can. The event is a small birthday party. They just wanted some cocktails in their garden, to make it a bit more special.
Sanitising
“It’s a small pop-up bar set up to serve drinks. Three hours in the afternoon and then packing up and going home.”
She said to make the event Covid-secure, they were planning to have a one-way system, stagger arrival times and “manage the use of the toilets”. She said there would be a sanitising station and the event would be pre-paid so there would be no cash changing hands.
“It’s a totally private party. It’s just a few close friends and family for the property owner," she added.
“I have said to them, if numbers were to go over […] I would go to them straight away and say ‘there are too many people here’ and stop service until numbers have resumed.
“If they don’t, then I will be leaving obviously. It’s three households and I think two of them are in the same bubble.”
Environmental protection officer Paul Samms said: “I would point out that this is not a normal venue where you have stewards that would be able to direct and make sure people are complying with procedures. It’s a home rather than a commercial venue.
“If the homeowner doesn’t apply with the risk assessment because relatives misunderstood the staggering procedure, is the homeowner really going to turn them away and say ‘come back later’?
“There’s a distinct possibility the homeowner won’t want to comply. This will create a lot of pressure for the applicant.
”Is the applicant going to be able to stand their ground in that situation? I’m not sure.”
He was also critical that the homeowner was not at the meeting to give assurances there would be compliance.
The objection will be considered by committee members including chair Councillor Nagina Kauser, Councillor Nicky Brennan and Councillor Adam Higgs and a decision will be published in due course.
