A Leek restaurant has been left disappointed after being told it could not serve customers in its covered seating area, due to it being technically classed as indoors.

Leek Bar and Grill in Getliffes Yard opened on April 12th, believing to be operating in line with the current Coronavirus rules, which state that restaurants and pubs can serve customers, but only in outdoor seating areas.

However, they were forced to close again shortly afterwards after Staffordshire Moorlands District Council ruled that their seating area, which the restaurant believed to be outdoors, was actually indoors.

They have now been left unable to reopen until at least 17th May, which the Government says is the earliest date that restrictions will relax further, allowing restaurants to serve customers indoors.

However, they are still running a takeaway service at select times of the week.

In a social media post, the restaurant's owner Ozgur Yeter expressed his disappointment at the decision.

He said: "We are deeply disappointed to announce that our outside seating area within Getliffes Yard has been declared not to be acceptable for use as an outdoor area.

"Getliffes Yard has been classified as being indoors under the current coronavirus regulations. We have therefore decided to close following recent discussions with the council.

"We are sorry to disappoint all our customers, especially those who have made reservations with us in order to spend quality time with family and friends after such a long difficult year.

"We will re-open on the 17th of May in line with the lifting of restrictions and we are already accepting bookings.

"We will continue to offer a take away service on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays between 4pm and 9pm and between 1pm to 8pm on Sundays.

"The whole team at Leek Bar and Grill are saddened by this decision and we thank you for your support."

The post has since attracted hundreds of comments, most being from customers saddened at the decision.

One said: "Getliffes Yard is open to all the elements of the weather, just because you don't get wet under the canopy doesn't mean you're not outside, it's all vented."

Another added: "Sorry to hear this for you and of course us customers. Good luck, we'll be here for you when you can open."

Staffordshire Moorlands District Council explained that the decision was made "in the interests of public safety".

A spokesperson said: "The council's covid ambassadors visited the site a number of times to offer advice to the business operator, and referred it to the licensing enforcement team for consideration when the advice was contested.

"The Council determined that Getliffe's Yard is indoors for the purposes of the current Covid regulations and the operator was advised as such in the interests of public safety during this critical phase of the pandemic as restrictions are progressively relaxed."

Don't forget to sign up to our newsletter below!  

You can submit your own news and opinions straight to Leek Nub News by using the 'Nub It' button on our home page.

This can also be done for events on our What's On page and for businesses, groups and organisations on our Local Listings page, also by using the 'Nub It' button.

Please like and follow our online newspaper on your favourite social media channel. You can find us on Facebook and Twitter.