A HIGH street pub is to remain closed until the New Year while its owner sorts out how to keep its drinks licence.

Police and Bexley Council's environmental health officers had applied to the council's licensing sub-committee to have the licence for the Blue Rose pub (formerly The Black Horse) in Sidcup High Street, to be revoked after a host of incidents.

Allegations included instances of underage drinking, drug dealing and fights in the pub, breaches of its licensing hours, excessive noise, anti-social behaviour and health and safety lapses.

A hearing was due to be held in September, but when the licensing sub-committee met, it heard from Enterprise Inns, which owns the building, court proceedings were taking place that day to repossess the pub from its previous tenants, Blue Rose Sidcup Ltd.

Its licencee and designated premises supervisor, Priya Patel, had also been removed from the licence and Enterprise Inns employee Graham Tuck had been installed as the new designated premises supervisor.

Mr Tuck, who indicated the company would like to change the pub's name back to The Black Horse, had asked for the September hearing to be adjourned, pending talks with the police and environmental health officers on the best way forward.

The hearing reconvened on October 17, when Enterprise Inns asked for another adjournment until January 16 next year, which was granted.

The pub has become notorious in the area, and has attracted complaints from nearby residents and residents' associations.

They have complained about noise from events held in the upstairs function room lasting until the early hours, drunken underage teenagers in their roads and drinking continuing after hours.

There has also been concern expressed about possible drug-taking and dealing in the pub.

Enterprise Inns has agreed the pub will remain closed until the next licensing hearing in January.

It was closed and boarded up immediately after the September hearing.