Wolverhampton pub loses licence after lockdown breach
A Wolverhampton pub found serving food and drinks to customers inside its premises during lockdown has had its licence revoked by the city council.
The Glassy Junction in Willenhall Road was attended by West Midlands Police officers on two separate occasions in October and November, Wolverhampton Council’s statutory licensing sub-committee was told.
As a result, an application to review the licence was made by Charlotte Rose, the council’s environmental health Covid compliance lead, and backed by West Midlands Police.
Ms Rose told members: “West Midlands Police attended the premises on October 10 at approximately 15.20 hours and reported observations of approximately 20 persons inside, with vertical drinking and no social distancing measures in place.
“No members of the party were wearing a face covering. The premises licence holder was not present. However, staff members were spoken to.”
In relation to an incident on Diwali on November 14, the application added: “Civilian Licensing Officer, Mark Swallow of West Midlands Police attended the premises and confirmed that an estimated 15 persons were inside, some of whom were seen to be eating and drinking at the table and bar area.
“Fireworks were also observed to be seen to the rear yard area.”
At the time of the second incident, West Midlands Police confirmed 15 people were given fixed penalty notices while licensee Mr Onkar Singh Basra was fined £1,000.
Ms Rose said there was no confidence in the premises licence holder to ensure the licensing objective of public safety was complied with, and called for the licence to be revoked.
Aimee Taylor, licensing and regulatory officer for West Midlands Police added that they had a number of significant concerns in relation to the premises.
Summing up, senior solicitor for the council Sarah Hardwick said: “There has been a flagrant disregard by the premises licence holder to uphold the licensing objectives and ensure that the premises were Covid-secure by continuing to flout the requirements set by law during the emergency period.
“Patrons were unnecessarily put at risk with a clear lack of management.”
“On November 14 2020 the premises was serving takeaway food only. Customers could collect food or it could be delivered. On this occasion there were seven members of staff present including the delivery driver, and five customers collecting.
“This was towards the end of the evening and those present were given a drink to celebrate Diwali. There was no fireworks display and the premises licence holder thought he was doing everything correctly.”
Representing Mr Basra, solicitor Anthony Schiller said his client was doing the best that he could at that stage and had simply got it wrong.
The Glassy Junction – formerly the Malt Shovel – is a family-run premises that reopened in 2017.
There had been no concerns with the premises between 2017 and the incidents in 2020 resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic, the committee was told.
Chairman Councillor Alan Bolshaw said it was the decision of the committee to revoke the licence.
