A pair of pubs in the Colchester borough were closed by the council's licensing team on Monday. 

One of the landlords has been slapped with a £10,000 fine too.

Read more >>> Colchester and Tiptree pubs CLOSED for breaching Covid-19 rules

This is why the pubs have been closed:

Responding to community concerns, Essex Police, Colchester Council and the borough’s new Covid marshals visited licensed premises over the weekend.

Covid guideline breaches were found at both the Leather Bottle, in Shrub End Road, Colchester, and The Anchor, in Station Road, Tiptree.

The Leather Bottle

The licensee of the Leather Bottle has been handed a £10,000 fine after officers found 25 people from multiple households mixing inside on Saturday.

About 15 people were gathered in a room playing pool, whilst a large group of partygoers had moved tables together to enjoy a buffet in the bar.

The pub was ordered to close until it is Covid secure on Monday.

The Anchor

Officers visited The Anchor on Sunday following up on information from the public and found 30 people inside the premises beyond the 11pm curfew as part of a “lock-in”.

During a follow-up visit licensing officers saw meals being served in a closed-side marquee, which is not defined as outdoor seating, and ordered the pub to close.

'We will take action against landlords' 

Mike Lilley, Colchester Council’s public safety boss, said: “Once again, despite our best efforts to communicate the guidelines, a minority of premises appear to think the rules do not apply to them and have failed to implement the necessary measures to protect people’s safety.

“It is important landlords understand we will take action against them if we find they operate in breach of the rules.

“They face the potential of an unlimited fine, if they fail to comply with the notice, as well as the possibility that we will review their licence.”

Police have 'common sense approach' to breaches

Chief Inspector Jonathan Evans, District Commander for Colchester, said: “So many local businesses have made sacrifices to keep their customers safe and have worked really hard to adjust how they work.

"The actions of a small minority, who are not doing the same, is unfair on the community.

“Essex Police will continue to use the same common sense approach to the regulations that we’ve had throughout the pandemic - we’ll engage with people, explain the regulations, and encourage them to do the right thing.”