A pub in Digbeth has been fined £10,000 for having a lock-in

The Spotted Dog in Digbeth hosted a lock-in past 10pm resulting in a £10,000 fine from the police.

The police entered the pub telling the drinkers to “see your drinks off and go home, very quickly”.

A pub worker was questioned by the police and told them “I know everybody in here. My apologies”.

Watch the video of the police entering the lock-in on The Tab Birmingham’s Facebook page here.

The police entered the pub on October 30 at 11pm to stop the lock-in, that was breaking the 10pm curfew. In a video of the incident, the police can be seen banging on the door and repeatedly saying “open the door, it’s the police”.

Eventually, the door is opened and someone apologises, before other drinkers can be heard saying “oh dear”.

Lots of drinkers and loud music can be heard in the background as the police say to people “I would see your drinks off and go home, very quickly”.

The police are then seen questioning a bar worker “why are you open?” The man responds: “Everyone’s expecting us to be closed down next week. I know everybody in here. My apologies”

The bar worker is told that “it is a blatant breach of Covid legislation”, and he admits “I know I was wrong tonight. So, my apologies.”

At the end of the video, the police can be seen telling the drinkers “I’d be grateful if you put those down guys, because you’re breaking the law”.

A West Midlands Police spokesperson said: “We’ve had to issue yet another £10,000 fine after finding a lock-in at a Birmingham pub, with households mixing inside an hour after it should have shut.

“Our officers arrived at The Spotted Dog in Digbeth at 11pm on Friday 30 October to find music still blaring and a party atmosphere, with no social distancing in place.

“Officers were told the gathering happened because people were expecting the pub to have to shut within days.

“We’ve now issued a £10,000 fine because of the scale of the breach at the Warwick Street pub.

“It’s the ninth time we’ve issued the so-called super fine, which are reserved for the most serious breaches of law.

Birmingham licensing Sgt Nick Giess said: “This was sadly yet another example of someone who should know the restrictions around coronavirus all too well putting people at risk.

“There were around 40 to 50 people in there, smoking and dancing, and showing no regard for the seriousness of the situation the region and the country finds itself in.”

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