The Palace of Westminster is set to turn off its taps and call time in its bars as the sale of alcohol on the parliamentary estate is prohibited to reflect the state of lockdown across the country.
The ban brought in by the speaker of the house Sir Lindsay Hoyle, following limits on hospitality venues brought forward in the latest round of government guidance – with provinces under the effect of a tier-three local lockdown forced to close any pub or bar that does not sell food.
However, unlike parts of the country, the speaker said the measure will come into effect on Saturday whether “food is served or not”.
Outside the parliamentary estate tier two restrictions are set to be placed on all of the capital’s 32 boroughs as well as York and parts of Essex – a rating which rules out indoor mixing between different households.