‘Bolshy’ Covid marshals investigate pub after it gives away scotch eggs with drinks

Manager insists restaurant isn’t breaking tier 2 rules

The restaurant offered a scotch egg with each alcohol drink (PA)

A restaurant manager has claimed Covid marshals “intimidated” her customers by visiting twice in a day after the venue offered free scotch eggs with alcoholic drinks.

Number 29 in North Norfolk advertised the offer for a free “substantial meal” on social media after reopening last week under the new tiered rules, which require food to be served with alcohol in tier 2 areas. 

Following a national row over whether or not scotch eggs count as a “substantial meal”, two cabinet ministers ruled the egg and pork foodstufff were indeed more than just a snack. 

The King's Lynn & West Norfolk Council told The Independent that the marshals were sent following complaints about how the restaurant was operating. 

However, the manager insists that the rules were not broken, and said the marshals “intimidated” the restaurant’s customers. 

Manager Rachael Parke told The Independent: “Our offering of a scotch egg with a salad or chips was brought about by Michael Gove’s statement that it was a substantial meal. As we didn’t want people to feel the pinch of not being able to sit and feel part of a sociable and welcoming ambience we made the commercial decision to  offer this included in the price of their chosen drink. 

"Surely it’s no different to buy one get one free, there is no law against giving things away included in the cost of something else.”

The manager had previously told ITV News that the marshals had “an intimidating presence about them”. 

"They didn't ask how you are or give advice, they just came in and were bolshy, wearing high vis jackets and looking more like security than giving advice," she told the outlet.

The council said its marshals have received “relevant training", and that it had written to the business asking them to stop the activity prior the visit.

A spokesperson for the council told The Independent that their marshals and local authority liaison officers “not only provide advice and guidance but are also our eyes and ears on the ground."

"When we receive complaints from the public or other premises owners, the marshals will follow up on the complaint to report back the facts to our Environmental Health staff or the police.

“Their presence has been welcomed and valued.”

It added that the council continues to try to “engage with the businesses to ensure it keeps its staff and customers safe”. 

Ms Parke said she the incident has angered her, and claimed the marshals have not visited any other bar, restaurant or hotel in the village of Burnham Market.

“I have worked in the hospitality industry for 30 years and I remain passionate about ‘hospitality’ and feel angry about this whole episode,” Ms Parke added.

Under the government’s new three-tiered system of coronavirus rules, pubs and bars in tier 2 areas must close to the public unless operating as restaurants and can only serve alcohol with “substantial” meals.  

Scotch eggs have featured prominently in the national discussion of what exactly constitutes a substantial meal, with environment secretary George Eustice saying that it would count “if there were table service”. 

His cabinet colleague Michael Gove, however, offered a different view, saying the foodstuff was merely a starter, before also pivoting to recognise it as “substantial”. 

Mr Gove said the term has existed in law for a number of years as a prerequisite for families looking to buy an alcoholic drink for a 16-year-old in a licensed premises. However, he was unable to detail the specifics of what would make up a substantial meal.

“They [pubs] already do know what the rules are and they have for years now,” he told ITV.

The new rules have led to  confusion about what customers have to eat in order to be served alcohol, but also to food waste, with a barman in a tier 2 venue recently sharing images of entire meals thrown away untouched after being ordered just so customers could drink.