Stafford bar caught out by underage drinker
A landmark restaurant and bar, which is currently without an alcohol licence, was caught out by an underage drinker acting undercover, it emerged today.
It was also revealed its previous manager has been declared bankrupt. Customers at The Post House in Stafford are being told to take their own alcoholic drinks and DJs are no longer playing there at weekends.
A report to a licensing sub-committee meeting on Thursday reveals previous manager Dennis Foster has been declared bankrupt – but the pub's new bosses say this will not affect business in the future.
The situation was revealed after the Post House applied to hold an event on November 9 supporting Birmingham Children's Hospital's appeal to fund a new cancer centre. Staffordshire Police is opposing the application.
A letter from Staffordshire Police to the council and the owners says: "We cannot support a temporary event notice due to the premises licence holder while under the review process being declared bankrupt on September 4."
It adds: "The review document included... a failed compliance test whereby they sold alcohol to an underage volunteer."
The Insolvency Service's register says a bankruptcy order was made against Dennis Foster on September 4.
Director Daniel Foster, in a reply to the letter also released in documents ahead of the meeting, says the police's letter 'refers to the old designated premises supervisor Dennis Foster'. It adds: "The new application has been applied for in my name so references to Dennis's bankruptcy are irrelevant. During the licence review several points have been raised which we have already implemented and are now in place."
A statement on the venue's website states the licence problems are due to a 'technical administrative error' but claim the situation will be resolved by mid-November.
The venue, in Greengate Street, opened its doors on December 11 last year after a multi-million pound transformation of the town's former post office building.
The statement says: "So for the time being if you are attending The Post House for a restaurant meal you can now bring your own alcoholic drinks.Until further notice we will also be unable to have a DJ at the weekends."
