Heath Ball, owner of The Red Lion and Sun in Highgate, north London, installed phone to get around the Government making ordering drinks in person illegal as part of lockdown restrictions

A pub has installed a landline phone just yards from its outdoor bar in order to get around the latest coronavirus restrictions.

The Red Lion and Sun in Highgate, north London, has made the change in response to the Government U-turning on allowing customers to order takeaway drinks in person.

With England in lockdown until at least December 2, Downing Street has now decided takeaway alcohol must be ordered prior to arrival, putting pubs and bars in an even more difficult position.

The upscale local boozer posted a video on Twitter showing a phone line stretching out into the carpark, with the caption: “Don’t forget to pre-order your drinks.”