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'Hundreds' Turn Up After Pub Reopens For Takeaway Pints With Some Urinating In Public

'Hundreds' Turn Up After Pub Reopens For Takeaway Pints With Some Urinating In Public

There were reports of people urinating in public and not observing social distancing

Claire Reid

Claire Reid

Crowds of drinkers descended onto the streets in Wales after a pub reopened to sell takeaway pints, with complaints of people peeing in public and intimidating residents.

The Village Bar Café, in Killay in Swansea, reopened on reduced hours and serving takeaway pints, following government guidelines, but things got out of hand when word spread and 'hundreds' of people turned up.

Google Maps

The bar's owner Martyn Jenkins said he acted within the guidelines and that local authorities supported his decision to reopen.

He said he launched the trial reopening to try and bring some life back into the local area and his business.

However, he admits that the trial 'has not turned out as we planned' and says the bar has now stopped trading at weekends.

One local resident told Wales Online he saw 'no social distancing' while he was walking through the area on Friday.

He said: "I was walking past Killay Square with my 8-year-old at around 5.50pm on Friday.

"There must have been hundreds of people talking and drinking beer.

"Many of them were in their 50s and unlikely to be from the same family. There was no social distancing at all.

"It was quite a scary experience for my daughter. On a normal day during lockdown you'd see three or four people at the square max.

"I feel for the older people trying to get essentials at the Co-op. The queue for the shop, because of social distancing, backs onto the square."

Another resident says he saw men urinating on walls.

The owner has apologised to anyone who was left feeling uncomfortable following the bar's reopening and says customers were encouraged to maintain social distancing and keep disruption to a minimum.

The bar had been opening for three hours between 3pm and 6pm on Thursdays and Fridays and for four hours (11am to 3pm) on Saturday to prevent crowds and anti-social behaviour at night.

He said: "[On Friday, June 26] we took the decision not to re-open as a take-away and have advised licensing.

A stock image of takeaway pints.
PA

"We are a small independent family business and it was not our intention to cause an adverse effect on our local community and we apologise to anyone who while using the precinct has felt uncomfortable.

"In addition to local authorities, we notified the owners of the precinct itself and local shop keepers - all were supportive as they recognised the benefit of having people use the precinct.

"We display clear signage regarding social distancing, advise everyone who purchases a drink to comply with this, regularly walk around the precinct to enforce distancing and clear away any mess.

"We provide bins for plastic containers and we clear away all debris after we have closed.

"Our customers were regulars who understand the conditions we are operating under, respect their local community and the people who they live next to, and although we have tried, unfortunately we can't continuously enforce social distancing."

Featured Image Credit: Wales Online

Topics: UK News, Wales