A south Ceredigion pub has been closed down after flouting coronavirus rules for the third time in the space of seven months by hosting an auction.

The Ffostrasol Arms has been served with a Premises Closure Notice and fined £2,000 by Ceredigion council after officers found “a Fred Davies & Co auction was taking place at the premises and no evidence that reasonable measures were in place to reduce the risk of Covid-19” during a revisit on 26 May.

Officers had visited the pub on 24 May to check compliance after the pub was fined £1,000 and handed a Premises Improvement Notice at the end of April for “showing blatant disregard” for coronavirus rules after customers were discovered drinking inside.

That incident followed an original breach of rules at the pub in October 2020, which also saw the business ordered to close.

On Monday, 24 May, officers from Ceredigion County Council’s Public Protection team visited the pub and found “further non-compliances”, and warned that failure to meet the requirements would lead them to be shut down.

“When officers re-visited the premises on 26 May, they found that a Fred Davies & Co auction was taking place at the premises and no evidence that reasonable measures were in place to reduce the risk of Covid-19 at the premises,” the council said.

“Assisted by Dyfed Powys Police, the Public Protection team returned to the Ffostrasol Arms on Friday, 28 May and issued a Premises Closure Notice and a Fixed Penalty Notice.

“As a result, the Ffostrasol Arms will remain closed for 28 days, or until they can demonstrate that they have made the necessary improvements to minimise the risk of Coronavirus on their premises.”

Ceredigion council said that businesses not following coronavirus regulations were putting the community at risk.

“The majority of Ceredigion‘s hospitality businesses are doing a commendable job at complying with the restrictions placed upon them despite the challenges they face, and the Public Protection Team is committed to supporting local businesses by offering them advice and guidance on how to comply with the restrictions,” the council said.

“However, businesses that irresponsibly disregard the Covid-19 regulations and puts the health of their customers, staff and the wider community at risk will face enforcement action being taken against them.

“Whilst non-compliant businesses receive advice and guidance in the first instance, serious or persistent breaches are dealt with by means of closure notices, fixed penalty notices or prosecution.”

Officers from Ceredigion’s Public Protection Team, alongside officers from Dyfed-Powys Police carry out regular routine joint patrols of businesses in Ceredigion to ensure compliance with current regulations.

“Officers from the council and the police will continue to conduct visits to premises throughout the county and offer support and advice to businesses,” the council added.