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Pub installs electric fence alongside bar to ensure drinkers socially distance

A pub run by a farmer is making sure people social distance - by installing an ELECTRIC FENCE at the bar. See SWNS story SWPLfence. The Star Inn has installed a barrier normally used to deter CATTLE to stop punters crowding while getting a pint. It reopened along with boozers across England after lockdown but said they were worried about drinkers not maintaining social distancing. To help protect his staff, landlord Johnny McFadden, who is also a farmer, decided to draw on his knowledge and went to his farm to get some equipment.
An electric fence has been installed in the Star Inn pub in St Just, Cornwall (SWNS)

A pub has installed an electric fence along its bar to ensure its customers adhere to social distancing.

The Star Inn in St Just, Cornwall, put up the fence to stop people from getting too close to its staff.

The shocking measure was taken when customers failed to obey social distancing advice when the pub reopened.

Pubs, cafes and restaurants in England were allowed to open their doors from 4 July after the government eased its coronavirus lockdown.

A pub run by a farmer is making sure people social distance - by installing an ELECTRIC FENCE at the bar. See SWNS story SWPLfence. The Star Inn has installed a barrier normally used to deter CATTLE to stop punters crowding while getting a pint. It reopened along with boozers across England after lockdown but said they were worried about drinkers not maintaining social distancing. To help protect his staff, landlord Johnny McFadden, who is also a farmer, decided to draw on his knowledge and went to his farm to get some equipment.
The Star Inn pub in St Just, Cornwall, is using an electric fence to keep customers social distancing (SWNS)

A picture taken inside the Star Inn and posted on social media on Sunday showed two strands of wire running across the front of the bar.

An accompanying sign reads: “Warning. Electric fence”.

The pub’s landlord Johnny McFadden told Cornwall Live: “It's there for social distancing.

"Before the fence, people were not following social distancing and were doing as they pleased, but now people take heed to the guidance around social distancing.

"It's for everybody's benefit."

He said the electric fence is normally switched off but warned that it can be turned on.

Cornwall Live reported that some customers claimed they were electrocuted by the fence on Saturday evening.

McFadden, who is also a farmer, got the equipment, normally used to keep cattle in fields, from his own farm.

He then installed it in the bar to keep customers a safe distance from those serving drinks.

Joel Carne-Mead, a barman at the pub, said: "We put it up as a bit of a novelty really, because the landlord loves his farming.

"It's a way of keeping people away from the bar. It's just a deterrent, but hopefully the sight of it will help keep people away.

A pub run by a farmer is making sure people social distance - by installing an ELECTRIC FENCE at the bar. See SWNS story SWPLfence. The Star Inn has installed a barrier normally used to deter CATTLE to stop punters crowding while getting a pint. It reopened along with boozers across England after lockdown but said they were worried about drinkers not maintaining social distancing. To help protect his staff, landlord Johnny McFadden, who is also a farmer, decided to draw on his knowledge and went to his farm to get some equipment.
The electric fence was installed by the pub's landlord, who is also a farmer (SWNS)

“That's how it works with cattle too, animals see it and often don't want to test it.

"Let's hope it's the same with our customers.

"We're open again now and we've had no issues so far, it's nice to be back."

Tom Stainer, chief executive of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), said: “This is the first time we've heard of a pub taking this approach - which we hope is a tongue-in-cheek approach to reminding customers about their responsibilities to use pubs safely.

"It's been pleasing to see that the vast majority of pub customers have been sensible when returning to their locals and helped licensees operate safely.”

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