Crayford pub plagued with drugs and fights handed second chance (From News Shopper)

Crayford pub plagued with drugs and fights handed second chance

1:58pm Tuesday 4th December 2012 in News By Alan Woods

The Duke of Wellington pub.

A TROUBLESOME Crayford pub plagued with drugs and fights has been handed a second chance after trading standards applied to have its license revoked.

The Duke of Wellington pub, in London Road, was also found to stay open until 4am one Sunday morning when it was due to shut at midnight.

Although the pub has broken several licensing conditions, Bexley councillors sitting on the licensing sub-committee decided the arrival of an experienced premises supervisor could save it from an alcohol ban.

The pub first appeared on the police radar last year when they received a complaint it was still open four hours after closing time.

On May 13 this year, police found two people had been injured by glass when they were called to a fight at 12:45am, 45-minutes after the pub was due to shut.

A visit by police and the licensing agency on September 28 found “people screaming and shouting” and at least 15 revellers in the pub garden drinking and “behaving in a noisy boisterous fashion.”

In the decision notice, councillors who debated the decision explained: “Class A drugs were found on one of the persons in the garden as well as several small empty bags commonly associated with cocaine.

“Empty nitrous oxide canisters were also found in the garden.

“The premises supervisor’s attitude to the fact members of the public were in the pub garden making noise was deplorable. He was, at the very least, condoning an environment where persons could behave in an unacceptable manner.”

The committee concluded behaviour at the pub has improved in the past seven weeks and a new experienced premises supervisor was appointed three weeks ago.

In a list of 20 conditions imposed by councillors, it was stated a CCTV system must operate inside and outside the pub and no alcohol can be served unless this is functional.

The premises license holder must also hold a meeting with nearby homeowners every six months and no alcohol can be served unless both the premises supervisor and personal licence holder are on duty.

The pub offered no comment following the decision.