A Nottinghamshire company has joined a growing number of bar, restaurant and nightclub owners who opposed plans to introduce vaccination records.
Tom Barton, a director of The Garage in Chilwell, has signed the Open for All charter, which states that asking for evidence of vaccination against Covid is incorrect.
The former Bartons’ bus depot on High Road is a venue for street food events and markets and currently has a beer garden with seating for around 300 people, which opens today.
The garage, a family business owned by brothers Tom, James, and Richard Barton, has also been used in the past for beer festivals, drive-in theaters, comedy concerts, silent discos, art exhibitions, and warehouse parties.
The government is considering certification of Covid status, which requires people to provide proof of vaccination in order to reopen mass gatherings such as foot games and nightclubs, and this is not ruled out for pubs and restaurants.
James Barton said, “We have and will always be an inclusive business.
“As such, we will never exclude people based on anything other than their behavior while visiting one of our venues. Their health is none of our business.”
More than 80 operators across the country have their voice included in the charter, which was also signed by DJs, promoters and TV presenter Tonia Buxton.
The charter reads: “We, the undersigned, are licensed premises and organizers who all had problems for everyone during this difficult time. We have no ax to grind politically and many of us think that the introduction of the vaccine was enormous for those who do. ” want to take it.
“We also know that some will not have a vaccine for many reasons. Furthermore, we do not believe it is right that we, as premises and sponsors, should require evidence of medical records or health status decided to have a vaccination.
“In addition to civic freedom and discrimination issues for society, there are many practical and logistical issues for us when venues or events insist on seeing health-related documents.
“That’s why we’ve signed the Charter for Licensed Venues and Events Open to All. This means we won’t force our customers to provide us with health records to gain access. We respect everyone’s personal information.” Decisions and diversity are one of our pillars. “
Alan Miller, co-founder of the Night Time Industries Association, organized the letter.