Dominic West pictured flouting Tier 2 rules

Now-deleted social media post showed West having lunch outside with six others

(Getty Images)

Dominic West has been accused of flouting tier 2 regulations.

According to a now-deleted photograph shared on Instagram by theatre producer Nick Allott, the Affair actor had lunch outside with six others over the weekend, therefore breaking rule of six guidelines.

Mr Allott captioned the post: "#tier2picnic"

In tier 2, groups of six people are permitted to socialise outdoors. However, West appears to have been part of a group of eight, including the seven pictured plus the person who took the photo, for whom a place setting is visible on the table.

The photograph, obtained by The Daily Mail, shows West dressed in traditional countryside garb, complete with a wax jacket and a flatcap.

The photograph comes after several celebrities have been accused of breaking lockdown restrictions. Last month, Rita Ora instead threw a 30th birthday party at the Casa Cruz restaurant in west London’s Notting Hill, on 28 November.

At the time, gatherings of more than six people indoors were banned, while restaurants were closed apart from takeaways or drive-throughs.

It later emerged that Ora was supposed to be self-isolating when she broke lockdown rules to throw the birthday party.Ora reportedly flew to Egypt in a private jet on 21 November to perform at the five-star W Hotel in Cairo.

She reportedly returned to England the next day and, as per government quarantine rules, was required to self-isolate for 14 days.

However, Ora’s birthday party took place just seven days later, on 28 November.

Ora issued an apology, following the one she made for throwing the party in the first place, and said she plans to donate any profit from the concert at the W Hotel to charity.

“I recently flew to Egypt to perform at a corporate event for a private company, where my travel party followed protocol and presented negative Covid tests upon entry, as required by Egyptian authorities,” she said.

“Upon my return to Britain, I should have followed government advice and isolated myself for the required period. As you know, I didn’t follow government advice and … I apologise again, unreservedly."

Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has also apologised after he was photographed breaking the government's coronavirus "rule of six" in October. 

Corbyn was photographed at a dinner party with eight other people including the photographer – potentially setting himself up for a £200 fine.

The Independent has contacted representatives for West for comment.