A DARWEN pub owner has agreed with Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham’s request for an urgent review the 10pm curfew on pubs across the country.

The curfew was introduced in Lancashire on Tuesday and was followed shortly after by the rest of the country.

Video’s have emerged on social media showing packed streets at kick out time on Saturday, leaving people questioning if the early curfew is really helping to control the virus.

Darwen pub entrepreneur Gary Perkins said: “It makes no sense to me. I get the whole control the virus and let’s do our bit but people are coming out earlier, are consuming that alcohol quicker and drinking against the clock

“Then at ten o’clock everyone is fighting over taxis. The very people we have been telling not to mix tables are all chatting outside in the queue for the taxi rank.”

Gary owns The Vault and the Spitfire which have now re-opened and also owns The Taps which due to its size is unable to open yet.

Both Darwen bars were full to their new capacity on Saturday night at 10pm meaning when the pubs asked customers to leave, they congregated outside.

“We are practising social distancing, wearing masks inside when you’re not sat down, being really strict and annoying the customers,” Gary added.

“We are importing all these rules on them, then we have to boot them out the bar.

“Before the 10 o’clock levy, some bars would close earlier, and we were one of the latest bars closing and people would just filter off slowly.

“Come to closing time it was really minimal the number of people you were asking to leave.”

One suggestion by the Manchester mayor is that a 9pm curfew could be placed on the sale of alcohol in shops to avoid people shopping to but more alcohol after the pubs have called last orders.

“My gut feeling is that this curfew is doing more harm than good,” Mr Burnham told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Monday.

“I think the government needs to give some urgent consideration to this because if it is doing more harm than good and actually also damaging businesses that have spent a lot of money getting themselves ready to reopen, then I think they shouldn’t just plough on with it.”

According to the Guardian, Junior health minister Helen Whately has said the government will be keeping “an open mind” about restrictions such as the 10pm curfew.