Troubled Northampton pub branded ‘beyond redemption’ has licence revoked
A PUB which has been described as being ‘beyond redemption’ by the police has had its licence revoked by Northampton Borough Council.
During an official hearing at the Guildhall yesterday, members of the council’s licensing committee heard the Prince of Wales pub in Harborough Road, Kingsthorpe, had been caught trading after hours four times between April 22 and December 12 last year.
Northamptonshire Police’s licensing officer, Pc David Bryan, told the committee he visited the pub just before 12.30am on December 12, an hour after it should have closed, and saw about 20 people still drinking in the bar, loud music being played and some people smoking in breach of the smoking ban.
He said: “We’re having to deal with a poorly run premises here. The staff have been made aware of our concerns, but it’s still not being run properly.”
Commenting on the fact nobody from the pub turned up to yesterday’s hearing, he added: “I’m really disappointed they’re not here. I think it shows that they’re not taking this matter seriously at all.”
Officials from the fire service also raised concerns about the management of the pub, pointing out that when they visited with the police on December 12, three fire doors were locked.
They also told the committee that on a subsequent visit, staff did not know how to raise the alarm if there was a fire, they did not know where the pub’s fire extinguishers were and the extinguishers themselves had not been serviced since 2008.
Scott Richards from the fire service told the committee: “I have serious concerns about their ability to manage fire safety at the premises.”
The committee heard the police were first called to the pub at 1.30am on April 24 last year by a neighbour who said there had been problems with loud music being played late at night for a couple of months.
On the same night, CCTV operators spotted two drunk men fighting after leaving the pub.
Officers visited the pub again on October 30 just after 1am when there were still about 15 people in the bar, who they described as ‘being very drunk’.
Just after 1am on November 13, the police went to the pub again and found about 10 people in the bar.
After hearing the evidence, the committee said the only way forward was to scrap the pub’s licence.
Councillor Gareth Eales (Lab, Spencer) said: “It’s frustrating nobody from the pub turned up to the hearing because there are a number of questions I would have liked to have asked them. But on the face of it, this is a flagrant breach of the licensing laws.
“I’m lost for words by what I’ve heard.”
The owners of the pub now have 21 days to appeal against the decision.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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