For pubs in tier two, the rules are they can only open if operating as a restaurant and serve alcohol with a “substantial meal”.

The ‘rule of six’ applies for diners outside but only one household or one household with a support bubble can be inside.

The Morning Advertiser​ has spoken to operators to find out how this rule is being enforced.

Licensee of the Unruly Pig in Bromeswell, Suffolk, Brendan Padfield said: “We are taking it seriously. All customers are asked to confirm they are single household or bubble and it would appear most, if not all customers are adhering.

“I did intervene with a customer. It was party of four. We asked whether part of a single household, they hesitated and then said not. A lot of customers are finding it inconvenient.

“We put the party on two separate tables with a partition in between them. They had their heads around the partitions and were talking and I did have to intervene.”

Law enforcement

He added: “The rules are there for a reason, I might not agree with they are the rules. It is difficult to police. If we have suspicions, we will check, but neither are we interrogating them.

“It is our job to take all reasonable steps to abide by and help implementation of the law but it is not for us to enforce the law.

“We are a hospitality business, we take it seriously, when we have suspicions, we do double check but we haven’t gone to the extent of seeking to see driving licences. Even if we did, that wouldn’t conclusive proof. It would be too intrusive and not conclusive.”