Bar now in 'last chance saloon'

A troubled Wolverhampton bar which won a reprieve from council bosses was today warned it was in "last chance saloon".

Moscow Bar in Darlington was allowed to stay open by the licensing sub-committee yesterday despite police concerns about serious problems with gangs and violence. It has been given 13 strict conditions to adhere to or face closure, including shutting at 3.30am, searching all customers using a metal detector and replacing glasses with plastic ones.

Former mayor John Rowley, who sat on the sub-committee which made its decision in private, said: "I think last chance saloon is a pretty accurate description of the Moscow Bar.

"The Government has adopted a liberal approach to licensing hours, some aspects of which I am not happy with. This place was staying open until 4am or 6am, and attracted gangs and other people who were already souped up from drinking elsewhere.

"I am set against the principle of venues opening up just to cater for people who have already been out enjoying themselves elsewhere. I am quite liberal in my attitude to the consumption of alcohol, but it is worrying."

An 18-year-old reveller was stabbed in Fold Street car park following a fight which started in the bar, and police spotted a man in a stab-proof vest nearby on the night of the attack.

Councillor Rowley added: "Some members of the public might look at Moscow Bar and say 'close it down' but it wasn't as simple as that. "We all want to see businesses run legitimately and ensure the majority of people are not stigmatised by the criminality of a few. By closing it down we are moving the problem somewhere else."

At the meeting landlord John Codner pleaded for one last chance and said there was a gang culture in Wolverhampton.

He said: "The culture in Wolverhampton at the moment is one of gangs, and I would ask you to give me one more chance to turn this place around. We cannot control what happens outside the premises in a car park, or 50 yards away."

While Moscow Bar has been given a stay of execution, a breach of conditions imposed on its licence could result in it being closed down. It opens on Friday and Saturday nights and the conditions will come into force immediately. They are:

Conditions placed on bar

1. All customers must be searched with metal detectors

2. A dress code must be in place and enforced

3. All supervisors must wear jackets

4. One door supervisor must be female

5. An incident book must be created and handed to police when necessary

6. A contacts record must be kept on all supervisors

7. The 210 capacity must be monitored

8. No-one can enter after 2.30am

9. All customers must be hand-stamped

10. Last orders must be served before 3am

11. 3.30am must be closing time

12. All drinks must be served in plastic cups

13. No drinks must leave the premises