Maryport pub will stay open but hours are cut
Last updated 17:40, Saturday, 29 March 2008
THE BUTCHER’S Arms in Maryport will remain open with reduced hours, an Allerdale licensing panel this week decided after hearing police complaints about the premises.
Licensee, Craig Whitehead, in an impassioned plea to the panel on Wednesday, said that if opening hours were cut too much he would have no option but to close the pub which supports himself, his wife and three children.
The panel stopped short of a recommendation from police that the premises be closed at midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.
They agreed that it could stay open until 2am - an hour before its present 3am closing time.
But Mr Whitehead was warned that he must have two door supervisors on duty from 10pm onwards, one based outside the premises to control customers who come out to smoke.
Door supervisors must also wear high visibility clothing so they are easily identified.
CCTV must cover the whole area of the pub and footage must be stored for a minimum of 28 days and copies given to police on demand.
The pub has been told it must be part of the Pub Watch radio link.
No children under 18 will be allowed on the premises after 9pm at night, except the licensee’s children.
Police applied for a review of the premises licence after 32 reported incidents in a year.
Sgt Richard Farnworth gave a list of instances including one when Kelly Whitehead, the licensee’s wife, was said to be drunk at a time she claimed she was in charge of the pub.
Sgt Farnworth said there have been several instances of fighting, affray and assaults, and complaints from nearby residents.
He said police had “serious concern” for public safety at the premises.
