Moves to close cheapest pub early
A West Bromwich pub selling the Black Country's cheapest pint may be forced to close early following 62 police incidents.
Licensing officers want to force The Marksman pub in Carters Green to close at midnight and to use metal detectors following a spate of assaults and weapons.
And it emerged today that the lease on the pub is up for sale. A sign outside offers the lease "free of tie" as well as first floor offices from £50 per week.
Police today published a list of 18 crime reports. which included seven assaults and even claims a member of staff pulled a knife on a customer.
Inspector Pat Smythe, licensing officer for Sandwell, submitted a report to Sandwell Council's licensing committee with a list of incidents between August 3. 2008 and February 21, 2009.
His report said there had been 18 crime reports for The Marksman including seven assaults, one person caught with cannabis, four people with Class A drugs, one theft from a car, one other theft, one public order offence and one racially aggravated public order offence.
He also revealed there had been an incident where a member of staff pulled a knife on a customer. That incident happened shortly before midnight on September 7 last year following an argument.
Insp Smythe said: "The Marksman has sought to become known nationally as the cheapest pub in Britain.
"Free drinks, reduced prices and other promotions have led to the premises becoming a magnet for binge drinkers who, having consumed harmful amounts of alcohol, leave the premises causing problems."
He has called for a ban on free alcohol after 9pm, metal detectors and CCTV to be installed, toilet attendants with UV lights to clamp down on drug use and "binge bands" so staff can monitor exactly how much each customer has drunk. The hearing takes place at Sandwell Council House in Oldbury next Thursday at 10am.
In December pub owner Belal Hussain started giving away free spirits for one hour over weekends in a move dubbed "irresponsible" by licensing chiefs. Last year he offered the cheapest pints in Britain with lager at 45p. The pub still sells beer at 89p a pint. Mr Hussain was unavailable for comment today.
