Pub stripped of licence after ‘prohibition’ party
Premises supervisor continued with party like ‘prohibition speakeasy’ despite being told by police to cease immediately
A PUB which was named and shamed by Greater Manchester Police’s chief constable has been stripped of its licence for hosting a party like a ‘prohibition speakeasy’ during lockdown.
The Billy Goat pub in Mossley was summoned for a premises licence review after police found around 30 people inside drinking at around 2.30pm on Saturday, March 21.
This was the day after Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that all pubs bars, restaurants must close down.
Speaking on BBC Radio Manchester, Chief Constable Ian Hopkins had slammed the pub telling staff ‘you are putting people’s lives at risk as well as being very very selfish to the wider community.’
Licensing manager Mike Robinson
said police were driving past the pub when they noticed a number of vehicles in the car park, and the curtains drawn, which led them to suspect the business might be trading.
The Billy Goat on Stamford Street was still open for a ‘private party,’ allowing patrons to enter via the back door.
The designated premises supervisor (DPS) Kathleen O’Neil was told by PC Martin
Dench she had 30 minutes to clear customers from the pub and close the premises.
However once police had left, CCTV footage showed that she once again began serving drinks.
When officers returned, there were still customers inside the Billy
Goat who then began to leave. Ms O’Neil and her family remained on the premises, but when police left for a second time she began to serve more drinks. Mr Robinson told the meeting of Tameside’s licensing committee that the licensing objectives of the prevention of crime and disorder, public nuisance and public safety had been ‘seriously undermined.’
He said the DPS and premises licence holder, Victor Bowers, had made the decision to remain open was because they thought ‘the coronavirus outbreak was not as bad as had been reported.’
“It’s my opinion that the management of the premises have shown a flagrant disregard for both the coronavirus regulations and the licensing objectives,” he added.
“It allowed customers to enter and leave via the backdoor like a prohibition speakeasy and the fact the premises continued to trade despite being instructed by PC Dench to cease trading exacerbates this and demonstrates a complete lack of respect for the authority or the law.”
During the hearing, Mr Bowers attributed the decision to remain open to ignorance about the dangers of Covid-19 and the short notice of the government instruction to close.
Ms O’Neil told the panel her behaviour was ‘stupid and irresponsible.’
The premises licence holder has the right to appeal the decision to Tameside magistrates court within 21 days.
The management of the premises have shown disregard for coronavirus
Licensing manager Mike Robinson