A BARNT Green restaurant is banned from selling alcohol and could be fined £1,000 after breaching lockdown regulations by serving food and drink to customers on the premises.

Deedar Indian Restaurant, on Hewell Road, has had its alcohol licence suspended by Bromsgrove District Council's Licensing Sub-Committee until a future review hearing.

The decision was made after the sub-committee heard police evidence over an alleged Covid regulation breach at the restaurant on Friday, November 20.

Supt. Mark Colquhoun submitted a statement on behalf of West Mercia Police outlining the alleged offences.

He said that police had received a call stating customers were eating meals on the Deedar premises and that when officers arrived staff members were not wearing face masks.

A body-worn camera showed "a number of customers sat around tables consuming alcohol" although, when challenged, staff said these people were "waiting for takeaways".

The restaurant manager said the same but when an officer went to a table at the back of the room, "the smell of food was overwhelming", the statement added.

"On the table there were used napkins and food scattered across the table, indicating that they had been eating inside the restaurant.

"On top of this there were a number of empty pint glasses and bottles of wine suggesting this had been ordered and paid for at the premises and not brought in by the customer."

Additionally, one of the men at the table appeared "extremely intoxicated, slurring his words and dropping his belongings on the floor".

The restaurant was reported for consideration for a £1,000 fixed penalty notice for breaching business regulations.

Mr Colquhoun's statement concluded: "We are currently in the middle of a pandemic and the UK Government has closed businesses under lockdown two.

"Clear guidance has been issued and it appears that the premises has not followed any of it by continuing to operate."

An additional statement from Sergeant Richard Field, who deals with licensing functions, said: "When I reviewed the body-worn camera footage I was shocked, appalled and dismayed of the blatant disregard to the current lockdown regulations.

"It was clear there were serious shortcomings at this restaurant and the only proportionate response based on the current health impacts is to seek a summary review."

A statement from Deedar, submitted by Dildar Hussain on behalf of his father Kaptan Miah, the licence holder for the restaurant, apologised for the breach.

It said: "I have made a mistake by interpreting the law differently in regards to COVID 19. And I sincerely apologise to this.

"I never knowingly intended to put my staff, customers or members of public to harm in anyway.

"Since the the restaurant was established in 1993 their have been no complaints, misuse of alcohol, public nuisance or any form of complaints.

"I am a very well liked trader of Barnt Green community with no history of breaking any law.

"I assure all members of the committee that this is a one off incident and will not be repeated again. Again I sincerely apologise for my action."