A LATE night bar placed under a licensing review by the council for allegedly breaching coronavirus restrictions has started welcoming customers back.

The Bar, in Nelson Square, has been set to have its licence reviewed by Bolton Council at a committee hearing on two occasions.

However, these meetings have been adjourned.

This was after it was accused of serving alcohol to customers without substantial meals when strict coronavirus rules were in place last year.

Despite this review, The Bar has been opening on weekends again, and has been taking bookings for this evening’s England versus Czech Republic game.

The Bar has been posting regularly on social media in the past few weeks, advertising the games being shown.

The venue’s licence was last set to be reviewed by the council’s licensing sub committee on June 9.

However, this hearing was again adjourned.

The Bar confirmed that they had been open and would be opening on weekends and for England’s football matches, while the review is ongoing.

Until the review is resolved, a Bolton Council spokesman confirmed that "they can stay open in line with Covid guidelines unless and until a hearing decides otherwise".

Police and council enforcement officers went to The Bar on Nelson Square on October 30 last year, seven days after Greater Manchester was put in the government’s coronavirus alert level of “very high”.

The alert level the region was placed in meant pubs and restaurants could not open unless they served a “substantial” meal and that they could only offer alcohol with such food.

But the head of regulatory services at the council raised concerns on October 29, the day prior to the joint visit, after watching body-cam of the venue the weekend before, which fell on October 24 and 25.

Following the concerns being recorded, police and the council returned to The Bar on Saturday, October 31, and licensing enforcement officers said they “witnessed very limited food on the tables”.

The council then issued an application for a review of the premises stating that it has “seriously undermined” two licensing objectives, the prevention of crime and disorder, and public safety.

Bolton Council was unavailable for comment as The Bolton News went to press.

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