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Birmingham pub’s licence suspended after lockdown lock-in

A pub has had its licence suspended after police found drinkers boozing inside during the lockdown, which councillors branded a “flagrant public nuisance”.

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The Bricklayers Arms in North Edgbaston

Officers were called to the Bricklayers Arms in North Edgbaston at 4pm on May 2 and found around three people inside, with alcohol poured into pint glasses and a smell of cigarette smoke, a licensing hearing heard.

Birmingham City Council moved to suspend the licence of the pub in Icknield Port Road following the urgent review called by West Midlands Police.

A full review of the pub’s licence will be held on June 1.

The pub is owned by Admiral Taverns, and a solicitor for the company stated at yesterday’s hearing it had had limited time to “establish the facts” and did not oppose the suspension.

A letter from the police to the committee stated officers arrived at the pub on May 2 after being told people were being let in through a back entrance since 3pm that day.

The meeting heard there was body-worn camera footage from the officers’ visit to the pub showing individuals inside.

The force said it had received several other reports since March 30 that the pub was open and letting people in.

The Government told all pubs to close on March 20 along with other venues such as nightclubs, theatres, cinemas, gyms and leisure centres.

This was outlined in law in the Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (England) Regulations 2020, which came into force on March 26.

Under this new legislation local authorities and the police can close premises that are flouting the closure ban.

A decision notice from the committee states: “The Covid 19 virus is a pandemic which has required all licensed premises to act responsibly and in accordance with the law, in order to save lives.

“It was therefore a flagrant public nuisance for any licensed premises to breach the lockdown to open to the public and conduct licensable activities.

“The sub-committee determined that the causes of the serious crime appeared to originate from unsatisfactory internal management procedures at the premises.

“Having heard the premises’ submission, the sub-committee determined that it was both necessary and reasonable to impose the interim step of suspension to address the immediate problems with the premises, namely the likelihood of further serious crime.

“The sub-committee considered whether it could impose other interim steps, including modification of licence conditions, or exclusion of the sale of alcohol or other licensable activities.

“Obviously, these were not appropriate in the context of the national lockdown.

“However the sub-committee determined that the removal of the designated premises supervisor was a very important safety feature given that it was this individual who was responsible for the day to day running of the premises, ie. the decision to defy the lockdown in order to trade as usual.

“Therefore the risks could only be addressed by the suspension of the licence but also removal of the DPS, pending the full review hearing.”

The sub-commitee hearing was chaired by Cllr Mike Leddy and also included Cllr Nicky Brennan and Cllr Mary Locke.

The full review hearing will be held on June 1 at 10am.

By Mark Cardwell - Local Democracy Reporter

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