A report has shown how many notices and fines were handed to licensed premises in Ceredigion during lockdown rules.

Officers from Ceredigion also reported how it had not been an easy time during the pandemic and that they had received threats from some business owners, although the ‘vast majority’ complied with regulations.

Ceredigion County Council’s public protection officers continued visiting licensed and business premises throughout the county during the pandemic to ensure coronavirus regulations were being followed.

In a report to licensing committee on Thursday, 16 September, it was highlighted that since March 2020 eight compliance notices were issued, along with 39 improvement notices, nine fixed penalty notices, five direction notices, seven closure notices and four prohibition notices.

Two requests were made for premises licence reviews the committee was told, relating to Bar 46 in Aberystwyth and Castle Hotel, Aberaeron, with matters resolved before a hearing was necessary.

Bar 46 on Bridge Street was issued a £1,000 fixed penalty notice and served a premises closure notice in March this year, after officers discovered what they called an ‘underground drinking den’ operating in the cellar of the premises during the France v Wales Six Nations rugby match.

Bar 46 remained closed for 28 days as a result.

The owners of the Castle Hotel in Aberaeron were also fined for breaches of coronavirus restrictions and public order offences after officers visited the premises in December last year.

Trading standards officer Anne-Louise Davies said it hadn’t been easy during the pandemic and “officers have had some difficulties from some businesses and have received threats, so it has been a difficult period for a lot of people.”

The “vast majority” of business and premises had complied with regulations but there had been some formal enforcement action required, with some businesses issued notices on multiple occasions.

Ms Davies said, in response to a question from Cllr Gareth Davies, that spot checks on Bar 46 would be increased in the run up to freshers’ week and the Castle Hotel had been checked during the busy summer.

The committee was also told that “repeat offenders” had paid fines to the council and there had been discussions about the suitability of Welsh Government Covid grants for such premises.

It was however deemed that the Welsh Government policy meant the grants had to be paid.

As restrictions eased, a group to consider temporary event notices and licences for larger events including weddings, running events and comedy nights, was set up consisting of relevant officers.

The only event that required further discussion with Ceredigion’s Gold Command was the recent Tour of Britain, the committee was told.

Gold command are a group of senior council officials at Ceredigion, who were handed executive decision making powers at the start of the coronavirus pandemic.