Licence-loss bar claims focus should have been on drink culture
AUTHORITIES ‘DETERMINED TO BLAME ONE BUSINESS’
THE owner of a troubled Derbyshire bar says he is disappointed that his court appeal aimed at reopening his venue was unsuccessful.
Rob Askew, owner of Crib Bar in Church Street, Ripley, had his case to have his venue’s licence reinstated dismissed at Southern Derbyshire Magistrates’ Court on Friday.
Mr Askew has now told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “Any truly serious measure to enhance nighttime safety in Ripley would tackle the town centre’s drinking culture which has changed totally in recent years due to the availability of very cheap alcohol. We know this is what is fuelling any problems. Instead, the authorities have been determined to blame one business alone. That makes little sense.
“The campaign against us has been sustained and the case made was very selective. I know that the Crib Bar provided customers with an enjoyable night out supported by professional security and appropriate safeguarding.
“So I’m naturally disappointed by the outcome, but predict it will make little practical difference to any issues the police and council are trying to grip.”
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Derbyshire police, which was defending a decision to suspend the venue’s licence, said: “We work closely with licensees to make sure that people are able to enjoy their nights out in safety.
“Shutting an establishment is only done in the most extreme circumstances and we will always try and work with premises to try and stop it from escalating to a point where this happens.”
Amber Valley Borough Council had revoked the bar’s licence, held by Mr Askew, in February 2023 following a case brought by Derbyshire police, reporting 47 criminal incidents in the space of 14 months in, outside and close to the bar.
The court loss will cost Mr Askew, who runs the bar through Speed 9761 Ltd, a total of £15,000 – £7,000 to the borough council and £8,000 to Derbyshire police.
Judge Jonathan Taaffe said he would have made the same decision as the council in February 2023 and would also make the same decision with the new evidence – to revoke the venue’s licence. He said management failed to uphold measures put in place to protect the public either by “choice or ignorance” and said had the venue been run by someone else then the Crib may still be open, with management described as “poor”.
A key part of the Crib’s case was evidence that there had been just as many reported police incidents connected to the neighbouring The
Association bar in the 11 months from February 8, 2023 to December 22, 2023 – 42 in total – since the closure of Crib Bar.
This saw Judge Taaffe question why the borough council and police had not also sought to revoke the licence of The Association, along with that of Crib Bar.
Daniel Penman, on behalf of Derbyshire police, said the venue and management sought to avoid all blame and take none of the responsibility for issues which took place inside their establishment or as a result of action inside it.
Nicholas Leviseur, on behalf of the bar, claimed that many of the reported 47 incidents were not attributable to the venue, saying the actual number was 22 cases in 12 months. Of these, he said 13 cases resulted in no further action, due to either missing CCTV or a lack of witnesses or evidence, among other issues.
Mr Leviseur said the real crux of the case rested on three “serious” incidents, two of which were a year apart from the first incident. This, he claimed, showed there was not a consistent issue of crime and disorder at the venue, and none which could have been predicted or avoided by management or staff. Those three incidents were: October 31, 2021: Serious assault involving one man stabbing another man three times in the abdomen after getting into an argument inside the bar.
September 4, 2022: Serious assault involving a man attacking two other men with a small knuckleduster attached to his keyring which was missed by staff conducted searches. One man was left with a two-to-three-inch slash across his chin and a one-inch wound on the right side of his neck, requiring stitches. The second victim was left with a two-inch wound to his face.
October 2: Affray (multiple assaults) in the venue’s smoking area, involving around 20 people fighting for 10 minutes. This led to assaults on two police officers, including one being headbutted.
Mr Leviseur said: “We do not live in a perfect world. The licensee can’t prevent the inevitable from happening.”
The campaign against us has been selective and the case made was very selective.
Rob Askew