The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) on Monday, August 31, ordered three food establishments to close their premises for failure to comply with COVID-19 measures.
These three places are Whimsical Bar and Create Kitchen along Science Park Drive, as well as S-Tripes Hotpot along Havelock Road.
In a press statement, SFA said it received feedback that Whimsical Bar did not implement safe distancing between tables and was serving alcoholic beverages after 10.30pm. SFA officers inspected the premises and found that tables were spaced less than one metre apart and groups of more than 5 people were allowed to sit together and mingle. Consumption of alcoholic beverages after 10.30pm was also observed.
In addition, Whimsical Bar was operating a food establishment without a valid food shop licence.
The adjacent unit, Create Kitchen, which has a licence to operate as a restaurant, violated similar rules. In addition to the order to close, both Whimsical Bar and Create Kitchen were fined SGD1,000 for the offences.
Meanwhile, S-Tripes Hotpot, which was licensed as a restaurant, was found serving alcoholic beverages after 10.30pm. Staff were also not wearing masks or not wearing them properly in spite of reminders.
Sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages was observed after 10.30pm, with the beverages transferred into teapots and empty green tea bottles before being served to avoid detection. S-Tripes Hotpot was fined SGD2,000 for the offences.