Tavern’s licences not renewed

The owner of a historic pub learned he would be stripped of his liquor licence three weeks before the premises was destroyed by a fire on Christmas Eve.

Steve Evans, the licensee of Canterbury’s Kirwee Tavern, was told the Selwyn District Licensing Committee had ‘‘unanimously’’ refused the renewal of the on and off licences held by Evansbury Holdings Limited, of which he is the sole director.

The decision was released on December 4, 20 days before the 100-year-old country pub – which is 35 kilometres west of Christchurch – was gutted by fire.

The blaze broke out at 11.50pm on Tuesday and Fire and Emergency New Zealand (Fenz) investigator Jason Hobbs said it looked like it started at a multiboard by a door before spreading through the bar and up the staircase.

On Thursday looters stole more than

$8000 worth of liquor from the burnt-out building.

During the renewal application process, the licensing committee heard evidence of unruly behaviour from patrons, including a 15-man brawl outside the premises one night.

The Selwyn District Council, police, and the local medical officer of health questioned Evans’ suitability to manage the pub, with concerns raised soon after he took over its management in July

2016.

He initially ran the premises on ‘‘temporary authorities’’ – a transition period when a new owner can trade on an existing licence until they obtain one in their own name – but in November 2016 he admitted trading out of hours and failing to adequately control the premises.

He was granted on and off licences in August 2017 and his manager’s certificate in June 2018. The licensing committee also heard allegations of an assault on the premises in July 2018, excessive noise and altercations.

In one incident, during a joint birthday party for four women, a fight broke out and the bar was closed. In another, a patron stamped on a person’s head.

Constable Genevieve Craddock told the committee Evans’ management style was ‘‘poor’’. During a licensing inspection at 10.20pm on February 16 this year, she looked through the window and was ‘‘shocked’’ to see him dancing on the pool table, she said. Evans denied the allegation.

Craddock said she did not believe granting the licences would be for the benefit of the community as a whole.

Senior Constable Andrew Grant said there had been ‘‘an ongoing issue of inappropriate or excessive consumption of alcohol at the premises’’ since Evans became the tavern’s licensee.

Local resident Jack Summers said there was an increase in bad behaviour since the pub changed ownership, with fights, vehicles doing burnouts, broken bottles on the road, and people urinating on his fence.

He told the committee he looked out of his window about 11.50pm on November 24, 2018, and saw 15 people fighting.

‘‘Most were pushing but there were a few fists being thrown around.’’

He and his mother phoned police ‘‘five to six times’’ within two years, he said.

The three agencies raised the issue of Evans drinking in the pub, but there was no evidence he consumed alcohol while he was working or was duty manager.

John Young, acting on behalf of

Evansbury Holdings, told the committee the agencies ‘‘significantly overstated the evidence in relation to issues at the premises and largely ignored the applicant’s evidence’’. He described the pool table incident as ‘‘an unnecessary distraction’’ and said Craddock’s evidence was ‘‘unreliable and confused’’.

He said Evans ‘‘is not perfect’’ but ‘‘has improved the management and operation of the business of the premises’’. He acknowledged ‘‘further improvement is required’’.

The pub was a ‘‘vital’’ part of the rural town and Young warned the premises may fall into disrepair if the licences were refused.

The committee ruled Evans was not suitable to hold alcohol licences. The decision to refuse the application for renewal would have taken effect from 11.59pm on January 29, 2020.

Evans was approached for comment.