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New hope for Cradley Heath club with 'dark history'

A former snooker club with a 'dark history' that closed after a string of concerns including violence and alleged drug taking could re-open to host boxing and wrestling.

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The On Cue Snooker Club, in Cradley Heath, had its licence taken away after concerns had been raised about the venue almost two years ago.

Sandwell Council's licensing panel members claimed the venue has been open out of hours and 'run in a manner that promoted violence and disorder'.

Now the Halesowen Road venue will be run by a new operator and called Georges Snooker and Sports Bar, under proposals put forward to the council.

Residents and ward councillors have met with the prospective operators to raise concerns they had about the venue previously.

These included fights and people taking drugs at the premises.

Ward councillor Julie Webb attended the meeting and said they were reassured after speaking to the new operators.

"This building has a dark history," she said. "There were fights and people come out having taken drugs," she claimed.

She added: "There were quite a few residents and myself who met with the new landlord and they are experienced people.

"There will be CCTV at the club. They will be vetting the people coming in."

The premises situated on the first floor above a number of shops including a fish and chip and convenience store.

Adrian Trevor Lloyd-Philips has applied to Sandwell Council for a new licence to cover the premises.

The licence would allow indoor sporting events such as boxing or wrestling from 12pm until 10pm Sunday to Thursday, from 12pm to 11pm on a Friday and from 10am to 11pm on a Saturday.

It would also allow alcohol to be sold 12pm each day until 10pm Sunday to Thursday and 11.30pm Friday and Saturday.

Proposed opening hours would be 12pm to 10.30pm Sunday to Thursday, extended to midnight on Friday and Saturdays.

A report to the committee by council licencing officer Malcolm Strong said: "On 16 December 2013 that licence was subject to review and the panel revoked the licence for the following reasons – opening outside licensed hours, providing licensable activities without a licence, breach of conditions and because the premises were being run in a manner that promoted violence and disorder on a regular basis."

A decision whether to grant the licence will be taken at a meeting on Tuesday morning at Sandwell Council House.

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