Changes to licence after police requested review
15 August 2008
South Gloucestershire Council has imposed new conditions on the licence of a public house following a request by police for it to be reviewed.
The council’s licensing sub-committee decided to modify the licence of the Queens Head in Willsbridge Hill following police concerns about noise and public nuisance and disorder issues and complaints from nearby residents.
After listening to representations from the police, council licensing and environmental health officers, Pubfolio Ltd – the premises licence holder, and the designated premises supervisor James Dicks and business partner Anthony Howells and a local resident, the licensing sub-committee decided to:
• Restrict the sale of alcohol to between 10am and 11pm (formerly 10am until midnight Monday – Thursday and Sunday, and 1am Friday – Saturday)
• Restrict opening hours to between 10am and 11.30pm (formerly 10am to 12.30pm Monday – Thursday and Sunday, and 1.30am Friday – Saturday)
• Close the beer garden at 9pm and remove any remaining glasses and bottles by 9.30pm
• Stop the consumption of any alcohol outside the front of the pub
• Remove James Dicks as the designated premises supervisor
• Request that CCTV cameras be installed to monitor the front and rear of the Queens Head
A council environmental health officer had visited the Queens Head to investigate complaints from residents about noise, and found that noise levels from the beer garden were excessive and continued until late at night.
At the licensing sub-committee meeting James Dicks and Anthony Howells said that they had been taking action to address the concerns of police and local residents.
Pubfolio had served James Dicks with 28 days notice to step down as the designated premises supervisor following information gathered by a resident that was brought to their attention. Pubfolio had also offered advice to James Dicks before the application to review the licence was submitted.
Mark Pullin, trading standards and licensing manager, said: “We have been working closely with the police to investigate the concerns of nearby residents and I hope this decision sends a clear message that public houses must act responsibly and in accordance with the terms of their licence.”
Neighbourhood Inspector Kevin Thatcher said: "The quality of life of people living near this pub has been seriously affected since May this year. Loud music, shouting, swearing, verbal abuse and alcohol-related disorder were happening in the garden and out the front of the pub, sometimes until 12.45am. Police were called to numerous incidents of rowdy behaviour.
"The police and our partners in South Gloucestershire Council's licensing and environmental health departments and Pubfolio had all offered advice to the designated premises supervisor before this application for a licence review was submitted with the support of local people. This outcome will be a huge relief to people living by this pub."
James Dicks has 21 days from the date of the review to appeal to local magistrates against his removal as the designated premises supervisor, and Pubfolio has 21 days from the date of the review to appeal to local magistrates against the modifications to the licence.
ENDS