Wolverhampton private hire venue facing licensing review after 'selling alcohol after hours'

Vaal & Vaal in Raglan Street, Chapel Ash, Wolverhampton will also face a City of Wolverhampton licensing hearing after failing to call 999 over a fight that left a man unconscious and for failing to get permission to hold an event past midnight.

West Midlands Police said the venue, which has a licence to serve alcohol until midnight and 1am on Bank Holidays, did not have a temporary event notice (TEN) for the late-night party on January 10 and had not applied for one.

CCTV footage had showed a fight had taken place outside the venue at around 2am which left a man unconscious but was not reported to police.

The force said it had received a report of a fight involving six men with “pocketknives” outside the venue at around 2.16am on January 10 though officers did not later record any evidence of weapons.

The police report published ahead of the meeting said the venue had blamed an “admin error” while admitting to selling alcohol after hours – with the event lasting until 2am and CCTV showing drinks being served until 1.46am.

West Midlands Police requested the venue’s licence be amended at the hearing on March 17 and its designated premises supervisor Harpreet Kaur Gill was removed.

The council’s licensing committee meets on March 17 to make a decision.

West Midlands Police said security staff did not intervene or assist the injured person and the venue said it was only aware of the incident after the council had contacted them and CCTV footage was inspected.

West Midlands Police said the venue had provided CCTV footage of an earlier incident where a man appeared to be lying unconscious outside the venue after a fight and the incident was not reported to police nor relayed to officers responding to the later 999 call.

The police report added: “During the meeting the premise licence holder advised that there is currently an application to extend the licensing hours at the premise which had been recently submitted to Wolverhampton Council.

“The premise licence holder explained how this was fundamental to their business but showed little understanding or acknowledgment for the seriousness of the incidents which had taken place at their premises.”

In its objections, West Midlands Police said Vaal & Vaal staff had taken responsibility for the incident and had “failed to uphold the licensing objectives” by not calling police.

“Sales of alcohol are made one hour and 46 minutes after scheduled licensing hours stipulate,” police added.

“Failure to adequately complete administration duties resulted in the premise hosting an event breaching current scheduled licensing hours.

“This premise licence is recorded as a hair dressing salon but is no longer operating as such and is being used as an event space to host private events.

“West Midlands Police are concerned of the lack of management at this premise and failure to notify changes to the premise and business, conditions on the current licence are not suitable for what the premise is being used for, and several of the conditions are not enforceable.”

West Midlands Fire Service said the venue did not have a suitable fire risk assessment in place and needed to provide certificates for fire alarms and emergency lighting.

The fire service said the venue’s decorations were not fire resistant and it needed to install permanent lights above fire exits.