A Wetherspoon pub in Lancaster has been closed after an outbreak of the norovirus sickness bug left customers suffering with severe sickness and diarrhoea.
Visitors to The Richard Owen pub in Lancaster's city centre have been reporting symptoms over the last week, leading to the closure of the pub for a deep clean.
A notice in the window informs potential customers that the pub, which also serves food, would be shut as a result of the outbreak.
Advert
The pub chain has now confirmed that the pub will reopen on Friday 6 December following sanitation.
Laurence Johnson, a 21-year-old from Lancaster, visited the pub with his friends for a pint and something to eat, but was then laid low by the sickness.
He told Lancashire Live: "So, I went to Spoons with two other mates on Sunday evening, we had a couple of drinks and a bit of food. Monday evening I threw up twice and had diarrhoea.
"One of the lads I went with has since been throwing up. Two other mates had been to Spoons over the weekend and were complaining of being very ill too."
Advert
He continued: "I seem to have recovered a bit faster than my other mates but I'm still a bit off. Someone has told me that it is to do with the water system so would seem ironic that they have closed since the weekend for work to be done."
Another customer, who wanted to be known only as Michael, told Metro: "I went at the weekend and ended up with it shooting out of both ends.
"We put it down to wine and a large meal at Wetherspoons just not sitting well with us and that was that, though we heard a week ago about the virus at the location and now we're sat wondering if maybe they've had the virus problem longer than people think."
Advert
Lancaster City Council has confirmed that it has had no role in the closure of the pub.
A spokesperson for the authority said: "The council isn't involved in investigating any concerns raised regarding the Sir Richard Owen public house in Lancaster."
Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon said: "A customer was ill in the pub. We believe it was norovirus and that spread to staff.
Advert
"The pub was closed while it was fully sanitised and staff have remained off work to recover.
"The pub is set to reopen on Friday."
Norovirus is often known as the 'winter vomiting bug' and can have symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhoea, nausea, headaches, and aching arms and legs.
Despite having horrendous symptoms, it normally clears up within a few days but can be particularly damaging to the elderly and vulnerable.
Featured Image Credit: Google Street View