Q&A Serving substantial meals in Tier 2

Date: 10 December 2020
Author/Solicitor: Andy Grimsey

Q: I am a wet led craft beer bar in Tier 2 with no kitchen. There is an artisan pizza restaurant a few doors down. He has approached me and offered to deliver to my customers as part of the requirement for a main meal. Can I do this? And what if the customers go to his restaurant first and bring their pizza into my bar?

A: In Tier 2 bars and pubs, amongst other venues providing alcohol for consumption on the premises, must close unless they operate as if they were a restaurant. This means serving substantial meals, like a main lunchtime or evening meal, or indeed breakfast, but you may only serve alcohol as part of such a meal. If you do not normally serve food you can enter into a contracting arrangement with your local pizza restaurant in order to comply with the requirement and remain open. However, you are not permitted to allow customers to bring food into the premises that had been purchased elsewhere in order to consume alcohol. Also, be sure you comply with any requirements to register as a food business https://www.gov.uk/food-business-registration.