A House of Commons spokesperson said Friday: “Strangers’ Bar will close from Monday 20 January while security and safety arrangements are reviewed. The safety of everyone on the estate remains a key priority of both Houses.”
While the drinking culture at Westminster is a topic of constant debate, the decision to shut one of parliament’s drinking establishments is highly unusual.
Another bar, known as the Sports and Social, was closed after an altercation involving two members of parliamentary staff in 2017 and has since reopened.
Jenny Symmons, chair of the GMB union’s Branch for Members’ Staff described it as “a very encouraging step,” noting that: “The House authorities have a duty of care for the whole parliamentary community, but this is especially important for MPs’ staff, given the vulnerabilities we face with power dynamics.”
Parliament is home to around a dozen bars and restaurants serving alcohol, some of which date back to the 19th Century.
Some have called for the sale of alcohol to be restricted on the parliamentary estate in a bid to foster a healthier working environment.
Parliament’s official complaints system has described the “culture of drinking in Westminster” as a “frequent factor” in conduct-breaching incidents by MPs and peers.
