Under England’s new coronavirus rules, pubs in tier two areas can only reopen if they serve table meals with alcoholic drinks from tomorrow (Wednesday 2 December).​

However, post-lockdown legislation states the meal requirement does not apply “where alcohol is being provided to a customer at a cinema, theatre, concert hall or sportsground.”

It also does not apply when “the alcohol is ordered by, and served to, a customer who has a ticket for an exhibition of a film, a performance or an event of training or competition at the venue, to consume in the area where the audience is seated to watch the exhibition, performance or event.”

How can it be ok to reopen theatres, sports grounds and cinemas and let them sell alcohol without table meals – but I cannot sit outside a pub or restaurant and have a drink with my sister pic.twitter.com/g4P7R0rPjz

— Kate Nicholls (@UKHospKate) November 30, 2020

Pub operators said they have been unfairly targeted, with heavier restrictions than other sectors, despite their investment into health and safety protocols.

Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA), said: “It’s outrageous you can have a pint in a theatre, concert hall, cinema or sports ground without a substantial meal, but not the pub. It is a slap in the face of pubs and brewers.”