Leeds bar Distrikt outlines substantial meals plan if Leeds goes into Tier 2

There has been speculation that Leeds could be put into Tier 2, as the case rate has plummeted in recent weeks.

The current number of cases per 100,000 people is now less than 140 - down from around 400.

The number of Covid patients in hospital had declined by 45 per cent in the last month, according to Leeds Central MP Hilary Benn.

Yesterday, Health Secretary Matt Hancock has appeared to suggest Leeds could move into Tier 2 this week when coronavirus rates are assessed.

The tiers are reviewed every two weeks, with the next review scheduled for tomorrow (Wednesday).

But there's no guarantee Leeds will be put into Tier 2.

Sheffield Mayor Dan Jarvis said it is 'highly likely' that South Yorkshire will stay in Tier 3.

It has a lower case rate than Leeds, but also has a lack of available hospital beds.

If Leeds is put in to Tier 2, Duncan Street bar Distrikt will be opening up their doors and serving the "substantial meals" needed to meet Tier 2 restrictions.

Popular Leeds street food vendors Falafel Guys will serve food to go with drinks.

In a Facebook update, Distrikt said: "Who’s ready to be back at distrikt?"

"We’ve been working hard behind the scenes ready for a potential tier 2 tomorrow if we get the green light bookings will be live and we have a few new additions in line with restrictions.

"Falafel Guys Leeds are opening up in the kitchen to serve up your “substantial meals” plus a whole new winter drinks menu with mulled wine and special winter cocktails."

Back in September, Distrikt introduced earlier opening times to combat the Government's 10pm curfew on the hospitality sector.

What are the Tier 2 rules?

Under the tier system, pubs in Tier 2 areas will only be allowed to open if they operate as a restaurant. This means that pubs can only serve alcohol with a “substantial meal.”

Pubs in Tier 2 must call last orders at 10pm, with all customers required to finish their food and drinks by 11pm.

The government’s guidance on what constitutes a substantial meal has been quite vague, with Environment Secretary George suggesting in November that something as small as a Scotch egg would count.

Speaking on LBC radio, he said, “I think a Scotch egg probably would count as a substantial meal if there were table service.

“Often that might be as a starter but yes I think it would, but this is a term that’s understood in licensing since it is, you can have the concept of a table licence for alcohol that also requires you to serve a substantial meal. That is the model that is being followed.”

What counts as a substantial meal?

Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick has previously defined a “substantial meal” as something you would “expect to have as a midday meal or an evening meal” under the old tier system.

However, he appeared to rule out traditional pub snacks such as a packet of crisps, or a side order of chips.

Mr Jenrick suggested that a Cornish pasty on its own would also not count as a substantial meal, unless it was served at a table and on a plate with a side, such as a chips or a salad.

He said, “If you would expect to go into that restaurant normally, or pub, and order a plated meal at the table of a Cornish pasty with chips or side salad or whatever it comes with, then that’s a normal meal.”

The new Covid-19 winter plan now defines a “substantial meal” as a full breakfast, main lunchtime, or evening meal.

However, the rules are still unclear, with the comments from Mr Eustice suggesting snack foods, such as scotch eggs, could now be counted as a meal.

On the “substantial meal” rule, Mr Eustice added, “The evidence has been that some of the challenges we have had with pubs were where you had large groups of people congregating and actually not maintaining social distancing, they were just drinking.

“They were more likely to maintain social distancing sat down and having a meal.

“The measures we’re taking are all about trying to break the cycle of infection and that doesn’t mean that every rule that we introduce and every requirement we put on people is perfectly consistent or might even be considered perfectly fair – indeed, they won’t be.”

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