Video surfaces showing police 'closing down' Garlands due to COVID-19 concerns

Both Garlands in Talbot Road and The Bridge in Lytham Road shut their doors at around 7pm yesterday (Sunday, September 20) after visits from Lancashire Police.

Garlands has confirmed that it has closed temporarily, along with The Bridge, after it was informed that a customer had tested positive for coronavirus.

It comes as footage was provided to the Gazette, showing officers visiting Garlands last night shortly before customers were told to vacate the venue.

Police reportedly visited the pub in response to concerns that it had remained open after being alerted to the confirmed case of coronavirus.

Management said the infected customer is believed to have visited The Bridge, not Garlands, but due to the pubs sharing management and staff, it is necessary to close both venues.

Garlands told the Gazette that it had already planned to close on Sunday night after being notified of the coronavirus case, but police had advised it to close immediately instead.

But the alleged delay in closing the venue has led to an investigation by Blackpool Council's public health and enforcement teams.

A Blackpool Council spokesperson said: "We are aware of this matter and, at this stage, our Public Health and Enforcement teams are working together to gather further information."

Speaking to the Gazette, Garlands management said: "There has been a positive test result reported, so as the staff and management work in both venues we have taken the decision to close both venues to deep clean them and all staff have booked to get a test today and tomorrow.

"It is believed to be here at The Bridge, but we don’t know which dates are affected, so we will pass all details to Test and Trace and they will contact anyone that may have been in contact."

But there had been speculation as to why Garlands had been visited by police ahead of the closure last night, as seen in the footage above.

This morning, management dismissed reports that it had been subject to a "closure order" from Lancashire Police or Blackpool Council, but did confirm that officers visited Garlands prior to its closing.

When pressed on this, management said: "Police did come to the venue over a false report, but we informed them of the positive report we had received and that we were due to close after last night anyway, but they suggested doing it straight away, which we agreed to."

One customer, who was in Garlands at the time, said: "I was there inside when it all went down. The officers burst into the pub and people didn’t know what was happening.

"They all pulled up in vans and cars outside. There were lots of officers on scene.

"The music was ordered to be turned off and the lights were all turned on. Then we were all told we had to go home."

Both Garlands and The Bridge said staff have been booked in for coronavirus tests today and tomorrow, and the venues are being deep cleaned by professionals.

Lancashire Police has declined to comment, saying it is a matter for the local authority. Blackpool Council said an investigation is ongoing.