Advertisement

Man tackled by bouncers for dancing to live band in Welsh pub

Watch: Welsh pub-goer wrestled to floor by bouncers for dancing to live band

A reveller was wrestled to the ground in a pub in Wales after he broke coronavirus rules by getting up to dance to a live band.

The pub-goer started dancing, in a breach of Welsh COVID-19 restrictions, when the band began playing a cover of Mr Brightside by The Killers.

Live music was allowed to return in Wales in May, but audiences are required to remain seated during performances.

Footage captured on CCTV at The Claude pub in Cardiff shows the reveller grappling with staff at the foot of the stage on Saturday evening.

Two men were arrested on suspicion of affray then released under investigation, police said.

(Wales News)
A brawl broke out at The Claude pub in Cardiff on Saturday after a customer started dancing. (Wales News)

Despite the fracas, the band continued to play their song.

The man was initially asked by bouncers to sit down after he got up and started dancing.

When he allegedly refused to do so, a brawl broke out at the bottom of the stage involving staff and customers.

The live band, The Firm, from south Wales, were playing their first gig since the beginning of lockdown in spring last year.

"We had just started playing Mr Brightside when this guy got up and started dancing," said bass player Matt Warr.

"He was told to stop dancing and sit down but he took exception to it.

"It all happened in a flash but from what I could see he then rugby tackled one of the bouncers and that's when it happened at the stage.”

Despite the brawl taking place at the bass player’s pedal board, the band played on.

"We looked at each other and just continued playing. It looked like the bouncers had it all under control,” said Warr.

"It was one of those things that if someone was seriously hurt then obviously we would stop straight away.

"This was just booze.

(Wales News)
The band at The Claude pub in Cardiff kept playing during the fracas on the stage. (Wales News)

"I asked the manager afterwards if he was okay with us continuing and he was fine."

According to Welsh government guidance on rehearsing, performing and taking part in the performing arts, “audiences should be seated as individuals or groups from the same household, support bubble or extended household”.

It states: “These individuals and groups should maintain 2m social distancing between each other.”

In its COVID-19 guidance for Wales, trade group UK Hospitality states: “Live performances can take place subject to businesses undertaking a risk assessment for the venue.

“To maintain social distancing and to prevent the increase of aerosol spread, dancing, communal singing and chanting should be discouraged.”

A spokesman for South Wales Police said: “At 11.00pm on Saturday officers responded to reports of a disturbance at a public house on Albany Road in Cardiff.

“A 32 year-old man from the Pontprennau area and a 42 year-old man from Cyncoed in Cardiff were arrested on suspicion of affray.

“They have both been released under investigation.”