Image copyright
PA Media
Bars in Parliament have traditionally stayed open late as MPs and their staff working in the evening
The Houses of Parliament has said none of its bars will serve alcohol after 10pm after it emerged it was not subject to England’s Covid-19 curfew.
Bars and restaurants in the Palace of Westminster are not bound by the early closing time because of exemptions for “workplace canteens” in the rules.
While most have been shut anyway, MPs said it was a “ridiculous” situation.
A spokesman said no alcohol had been served after hours since the new restrictions came into force last week.
And he confirmed “alcohol will not be sold after 10pm anywhere on the parliamentary estate”.
But late-night food will still be available in the Palace of Westminster when Parliament is sitting.
The parliamentary authorities said catering facilities would remain open “in line with the government’s industry guidance… to serve food for those still working and to support social distancing.”
Since Thursday 24 September, all pubs, bars, restaurants and other hospitality venues in England selling food and drink have been required to close at 22:00 BST, except for takeaways, to help curb the spread of coronavirus.
A small number of venues are exempt from the rules, including canteens at hospitals, prisons, army bases and homeless shelters.
Under the rules, “workplace canteens” can also stay open if it is deemed “there is no practical alternative for staff at that workplace to obtain food”.
‘Horrified’
News that Parliament was not legally bound by the same rules as hospitality businesses across England, first reported by The Times Red Box, was met by criticism from MPs.
Labour’s Wes Streeting said the situation “had to change immediately” while Conservative George Freeman said it risked bringing Parliament “into disrepute”.
In response, the Parliamentary authorities said Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle had taken the decision on Thursday, when the new 10pm limit came in, that Parliament must abide by it in relation to alcohol.
It said no alcohol had been served on the Parliamentary estate since the guidelines came in but that Monday would be the first day that it would take practical effect, with the Commons likely to sit after 10pm.
MPs will debate the curfew and other coronavirus restrictions later on Monday amid growing unease among many Conservatives about their effectiveness and economic impact.
Conservative MP Tim Loughton pointed out most of the bars had been shut since the outbreak began in March, tweeting that “we have more restrictions than the public at large”.
There are multiple bars and restaurants in the Palace of Westminster, which is situated in central London, for the use of MPs, peers, staff and other passholders.
They include the Adjournment, Churchill Dining Room, Members Dispense Bar, Press Bar, Pugin, Strangers Bar and Moncrieffs. They have traditionally stayed open late to accommodate evening parliamentary sittings.
