BARMY new Covid rules mean people can work from the pub with pals from Monday instead of going to the office.
The farce emerged as Boris Johnson faced more flak over lockdown-busting Christmas parties and dodgy donations for Downing Street decorating.
Pub boss Adam Brooks said: “With the crazy work from home rules, why don’t workers unite in making our nations’ pubs their offices?”
Pubs are seizing on the loophole by setting up workspaces with free tea and wifi to entice staff away from kitchen tables.
And last night the PM was facing his biggest backlash yet over his plans for vaccine passports at nightclubs and sports events.
Landlady Vicky MacDonald is offering a “workstation” deal at the Cellar House in Norwich.
Barred office workers can get three hours for just £12 — which includes power, a lunchtime sandwich and unlimited teas.
She told HOAR: “Some people are sick of working from home so we thought we’d do what we can to help. In the last week we’ve had people cancel Christmas parties which has been devastating.
“But if Boris says you’re more than welcome to spend your day working at the bar, we’re all for it.”
Adam Brooks, at The Three Colts in Buckhurst Hill, Essex, added: “The latest fear-mongering and restrictions have annihilated hospitality at our busiest time.
Read our Omicron variant live blog for the latest news
“With the crazy work from home rules, why don’t workers unite in making our pubs their offices?”
The Campaign for Pubs’s Greg Mulholland added: “Whether people are hot-desking in their local or having a party in the pub, they’ll get a lot more sense from hardworking publicans and staff than they are from ministers.”
And Lee Worsley, boss of the Coach House Inn, Winterbourne Abbas and Kings Arms, Portesham, both in Dorset is offering breakfast or lunch, a hot drink and five hours’ work station for £15.
He said: “It’s worth taking advantage of these barmy rules to spend some time with a pub’s welcoming and lovely staff.
“Working on your own for hours can be negative for your mental health. Working from the pub can help you — and a local business.”
Politicians will vote on triggering Covid Plan B next Tuesday.
If it passes then the rules will be reviewed by January 5, and automatically expire on January 26.
Around 80 backbenchers — many in Red Wall seats — are preparing to vote against.
That would be enough to overturn the PM’s majority and leave him facing the biggest threat to his authority yet.
But Labour’s Sir Keir Starmer is set to save Boris’s skin and order his MPs to vote through the plan.
Tory MP Marcus Fysh said vaccine passports were an “utter disgrace” and colleague Simon Jupp branded them “divisive and discriminatory”.
Red Wall poster girl and Bishop Auckland MP Dehenna Davison warned: “The evidence we have been presented with does not justify further restrictions on liberties. ‘Just in case’ simply doesn’t cut it.”
‘NINE LIVES JOHNSON’
The knives came out for Boris yesterday with MPs privately warning his days could be numbered.
One minister told HOAR: “He is like a cat with nine lives but he has used some up. He’s on probation. People are watching closely.”
Another Tory fumed: “It’s a total sh**show. Boris has surrounded himself with sycophants like a 17th century court. It needs changing.”
A senior Tory chimed in: “I don’t believe a single word Boris says anymore. He’s blown it.”
Others called for the PM to “put grown ups in the room” to end his party’s blunders.
Labour have signalled they will back passports.
But Sir Keir is under pressure to unite with Tory rebels to defeat the Government and call a confidence vote to try to topple BoJo.
Labour MP Graham Stringer said the party had “a duty” to oppose the plans.
A Tory MP admitted Sir Keir could “kill Boris” if he plucked up the guts, adding: “But he won’t.”
Another 249 Omicron cases were confirmed yesterday, taking the total to 819.
In all there were 50,867 more virus cases and 148 deaths.
Cases of all variants hit a record high in primary aged pupils last week with one in every 100 catching a strain.
Sage’s Prof John Edmunds said of Omicron: “We may have really significant numbers by Christmas.”
He said it was too soon to tell if it is milder than Delta.
Professor Peter Openshaw added “Deaths may take several weeks to declare themselves.”
