We’ll improve pub with ‘Kray twins’ approach
TWO sisters who run a Valley pub have promised to manage the venue properly and say they have adopted a no-nonsense ‘Kray twins’ approach to problem customers.
Marie Burke and sister Jayne Walton run the Roebuck pub in Waterfoot, where alcohol sales and music activities must now stop earlier and new conditions must be followed to stop noise, disturbances and disorder.
The sisters told a Rossendale Council licensing review they had learned hard lessons since taking over the pub in early 2020 and had gradually become respected by customers.
Their management style had changed from being ‘two smiling blondes’ to being nick-named ‘the Kray twins’ with a tougher approach, they said.
The Roebuck, on Burnley Road East, can now sell alcohol up to midnight rather than 2am, as was previously allowed. Live music, karaoke or dancing, must now stop at 11pm, not midnight.
Other conditions include earlier closing hours at Christmas and bank holidays, reduced evening hours for the beer garden, and requirements for new CCTV, outside lighting and the logging of any incidents. Full details of new conditions are to be finalised by Rossendale Council.
Licensee Marie Burke and Jayne Walton, a director with the pub business, attended the hearing following a string of complaints about noise, fights, anti-social behaviour, allegations of customers using drugs and covid breaches at the Roebuck between 2020 and 2021.
A number stemmed from the pandemic period when pub customers had to be outside in the rear beer garden or sociallydistanced inside. But others dated from other periods and incidents.
Rossendale environmental health officers led the review, mainly over noise complaints.
Videos filmed by residents nearby included two separate incidents of customers, a man and a woman, urinating outside the pub. Other sequences showed Jayne Walton throwing a beer keg at a man on the street who had threatened her, and a fight on the street.
Lancashire Police also took part in the licensing review and had submitted a log of report incidents since early 2020 when Ms Burke became licensee.
Police said it had been the location for the second-highest number of logged incidents in Rossendale during a 12-month period.
These included fights and all- eged breaches of restrictions on indoor gatherings and social distancing.
However, no criminal cases or complaints by any victims had arisen, and police said things had improved this year.
PC Michael Jones, a licensing officer, outlined a series of logged incidents linked to the pub over 2020 and 2021.
He said: “There have been recent headlines about the O.K Corral but unfortunately that’s just the way of social media. The main issues are really about noise and disturbance rather than crime and disorder.” Marie Burke said: “We apologise to neighbours and accept we have made mistakes in the past. But we will do whatever is needed to make things right. We want to get on with neighbours and avoid tit-for-tat arguments.
“We took on the pub just before the pandemic started and were a bit overwhelmed when the restrictions were first lifted. We were flooded with customers from across the Valley because we have quite a large beer garden. But things have eased off and we have learned more about running a pub. We have also sorted out the clientele and are building a good, local family pub.”
Jayne Walton said: “We have both given up our previous jobs to run a pub. We want to make it work.
“We grew up in Rossendale and are part of the community. We have lived here all our lives.”
Coun Christine Gill earlier warned Ms Burke and Ms Walton that the licence for the pub premises could be revoked and they faced a serious situation.
However, councillors ultimately allowed the licence to remain, but with various changes and conditions.
The final details would be sent to Ms Burke but there were over 20 conditions on earlier closing times, earlier ends to music and restrictions on using the beer garden in evenings.
Speaking after the review, neighbour Paul Lord said: “The main issue has been noise. I have two children and the noise woke the youngest one up. Things got quieter when the licensing review notice was served.
“We didn’t realise that residents could speak at the review or I’d have put my name down to speak.
“But I’m happy about the outcome.”
‘We accept we have made mistakes in the past’