Two cocktail bars in Congleton have decided to shut their doors following a visit from police and council officials, who carried out coronavirus checks on premises' in the town centre.

Arriba, on West Street, and Rumba located on Swan Bank, announced on social media yesterday (Saturday) that officers from Cheshire Police and Cheshire East Council had visited their respected venues to undertake compliance checks.

The bars, which are owned by the same company, Life & Soul Ltd, claimed the authorities had told them they would have to prove people were not mixing households in their establishments.

Owners of the bars stated that Cheshire Police told the management team they would have to prove customers were part of the same household or bubble - or risk being fined.

However, they also claimed that it was not made clear by the authorities how the venues could validate a support bubble.

Posting on social media, both Rumba and Arriba said: "On Friday night, officers from Cheshire Police and Cheshire East Council visited Arriba in Congleton to carry out compliance checks.

"Under Tier 2 restrictions, households must not mix indoors. Government guidance so far has been that we must take reasonable steps to comply with this requirement.

"As such, our social media pages, booking confirmations, posters and house rules all state that mixing between bubbles is not permitted, and our staff ask every party on arrival to to confirm understanding and compliance.

"It was made clear to us on Friday night that this is no longer acceptable.

"It is now the responsibility of the venue to 'prove beyond reasonable doubt' that customers sharing a table are not from mixed households. This includes checking driving licenses, passports etc.

"It was made clear to us how we could validate a support bubble.

"We were left in no doubt that any infringement of these restrictions would result in fines, prosecution and possible loss of licenses, and that the authorities will be actively checking over the coming weeks/months.

"We cannot risk this, and have taken the difficult decision to remain closed until these restrictions are relaxed.

"We apologise to our customers, our local suppliers and all of our teams who have worked tirelessly to adapt to an ever changing situation, however we have now been put in an impossible situation.

"At this time of the year. hospitality businesses should be alive and vibrant. Unfortunately the opposite is true."

This comes after DV8, on Little Street, Congleton, was told its beer garden does not qualify as 'outside' under the coronavirus regulations.

Cheshire Police confirmed officers were patrolling the streets of Congleton on Friday night (December 11) performing coronavirus checks.

A Congleton Police spokesperson said: "Congleton Beat Team carried out a joint licensing operation with Cheshire East on Friday night checking the licensed premises in Congleton Town Centre are complying with current regulations."

Cheshire East's pubs and restaurants have been allowed to reopen under Tier 2 restrictions as long as there is no household mixing indoors and they serve a 'substantial meal'.

Tier restrictions are due to reviewed on Wednesday (16 December).