mond2x: Troubled pub must stick to strict rules after drugs violation

Friday, March 25, 2011

Troubled pub must stick to strict rules after drugs violation

A PUB plagued with drug use and smoking violations has been told it must abide by a strict list of conditions.

The Robin Hood Inn, in Stone, run by Admiral Taverns, had its licence reviewed after concerns were raised by Staffordshire Police.

Officers used drug test kits on the surfaces inside the Church Street venue which came back positive.

PC Steve Williams: "The test readings indicating the presence of drugs is not an exact science but in our experience readings of four and five indicate there have been drugs used there relatively recently."

Admiral Taverns solicitor, Mark Brown, told Stafford Borough Council licensing committee the pub would improve.

He said: "Closing it down would just punish the new supervisor who has only been in place for two weeks.

"We accept the allegations of drug taking and smoking inside the pub, the police have evidence to back that up, but we are installing a new CCTV system to help prevent this happening again.

"I believe the main cause for concern has been the lack of standards of the previous premises supervisor."

Councillors placed 14 new conditions on the licence including CCTV installation, membership of Pubwatch and the enforcement of a Challenge 21 policy.

Mr Brown said: "I am comfortable with these new conditions.

"We will be setting a very high standard from now on and people will realise when they've crossed the line."

Mr Brown said the small pub did not need doormen and if they were forced to employ them it would make the business financially unviable.

Councillor Angela Loughran: "It would appear some of the clientele in the past have not been the most pleasant people and they have been able to do whatever they liked in the premises. It should be a different ball game now.

"The smoking wasn't going on for just one night, there was a stench inside the premises."

New landlord Richard Leese, who has been in charge for two weeks, said: "I will be making a bold statement from the start and putting my foot down.

"For the past two weeks we've been scrubbing the place from top to bottom to make sure it is clean and free from the smoke smell."

Councillor Amyas Stafford Northcote said: "This pub had a bad reputation and it's our job to make sure this doesn't happen again. These conditions must be kept."

Councillors criticised the pub operators for not installing CCTV earlier and for opting for cleaning by their staff rather than employing a specialist company.

Cameras will be installed in the bar area next week and a Challenge 21 system soon be operating with notices displayed to tell customers they must provide identification.