A High Court judge has ruled in favour of the government regarding the delay to reopening indoor hospitality venues after a legal challenge.
Hugh Osmond, of Punch Taverns, and Sacha Lord, Greater Manchester's night time economy tsar, sought to challenge the decision to delay the reopening of indoor hospitality until May 17, arguing there is no scientific basis for indoor hospitality to remain closed while other businesses such as non-essential retail have been permitted to resume trading.
Mr Justice Julian Knowles dismissed the call for judicial review to bring forward indoor reopenings as 'academic', as the necessary hearing would now be unlikely to take place before May 17, the date by which indoor hospitality is already scheduled to reopen.