Troubled pub loses licence

A pub which served under-age drinkers and had a history of violence has had its licence taken away.

The Cornerhouse, in Syston, has been closed for two months since its last manager moved on but police have now applied successfully to have it premises licence revoked.

Punch Taverns, which owns the premises in Melton Road, cannot reopen the pub without getting a new licence.

Sergeant Marcus Lee, who gave evidence at a licensing review, said: "For a number of years, the Cornerhouse has been a matter of great concern to us.

"It has a chequered history. There have been under-age drinkers, allegations of drugs misuse and also a fair share of violence.

"We tried various different approaches with the management but that didn't make any difference.

"The pub has been closed for a while, but we still felt the need to apply for a licence review.

"If they want to reopen, they will have to reapply and we will have a say in conditions.

"It's a fairly big deal because not many of the big pub operating companies lose a premises licence. This will hopefully focus their attention on making sure the place is run properly.

"The problem was that the pub is smack in the middle of town so all the problems there were evident to the community.

"In fact, since it has been closed the anti-social behaviour in the area has reduced considerably."

Council licensing manager Malcolm Burton said: "It is always a last resort, but in this case the police were able to convince councillors this was the best approach.

"Partly it is a punishment but it's mainly for the benefit of the people who suffered as a result of the pub not being run properly."

Punch Taverns can appeal. Its spokeswoman said it had co-operated with the police and licensing officers and taken positive action to address concerns.

"We would like to stress that we are not responsible for the day-to-day operation. We are actively looking to recruit a new licensee to operate the pub responsibly."