A Rhyl bar has lost its licence after police highlighted a catalogue of violence, drug dealing and anti-social behaviour - some of it ignored by staff.
In revoking the licence of Bar Bow, in the town’s Water Street, Denbighshire County Council ’s licensing committee said staff and customers had been put at risk and that the management had not heeded the advice of professionals.
Though steps had recently been taken to put things in order the committee said it was “too little too late”.
North Wales Police called for a review of the licence because of the number of incidents over the past 18 months and concern over the attitude of licensee James Benbow, who had refused to join the PubWatch Scheme or apply its policies.
One of the incidents referred to by the Force’s licensing officer Aaron Hargaas was the assault by John Mark Roberts, 52, on Sophie Bancroft whose nose was broken when he headbutted her. Roberts, from Penyffordd, near Holywell , was jailed for two years last month.
That assault occurred just outside the premises. but according to Mr Haggas, Mr Benbow felt Bar Bow was in no way to blame.
Mr Haggas said that people banned from other premises for various reasons were allowed into Bar Bow and Mr Benow felt they were acceptable.
At today’s meeting members were shown CCTV footage of several incidents on the premises including a brawl in which a woman customer was “glassed”, a well-known “flasher” dropping his trousers several times in the bar and entering the ladies’ toilet, and suspected drug-dealing and drug-taking in the men’s toilets. Underage youngsters were seen wandering in and out of the bar.
Police solicitor Gill Jones told the committee that calling for the review was the last resort, adding: “Officers have worked very hard with the management to try to support them but unfortunately those attempts have failed.”
As a result, she said, North Wales Police had no confidence in the management’s ability to run the premises properly in accordance with the licensing aims.
In June the police and council presented Mr Benbow with an action plan to tackle the problems but it was not complied.
Sergeant Steve Prince told the meeting that in his 25 years as an officer he had never known any premises to cause such concern.
Solicitor Winston Brown, for the owners, said that Mr Benbow was prepared to step down as licensee and for Luke Irving, who already worked there, to take over.
“It was a wrong decision not to belong to Pubwatch and to apply Rhyl Rules as it became a magnet for troublemakers,” he said.
“Drugs have been an issue and that is not denied, but they have dramatic action to deal with it,” said Mr Smith.
He told the committee that staff trained on all relevant issues was now taking place and they were prepared to close the premises for 28 days for refurbishment and for a relaunch.
Jessica Lane, who has been the designated premises supervisor since January, said a more efficient security firm was employed.
“There have been massive changes,” she said. “We did get a lot of trouble but we have done an awful lot to tackle it.”
But Chief Inspector Paul Joyce argued that as the same management staff would be involved he was not confident of any major changes being implemented.
see-http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/rhyl-bar-woman-headbutted-closed-11662284
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