Pub avoids losing licence after stabbing

A pub has avoided losing its premises licence after bosses accepted tough new conditions following a stabbing.

Police had called for an urgent review of the licence at the Boars Head pub in Blackpool after the incident on 16 July, following a live screening of the World Cup match between England and Argentina.

The victim was taken to hospital where his condition was described at the time as being serious but not life-threatening and an arrest was made.

Officers said the stabbing, which occurred outside the Preston Old Road pub after a disturbance inside, was not an isolated incident and there appeared to be an issue with trouble during times when England matches were screened there.

Police said the situation was still more serious because several 16 and 17-year-olds were in the venue and witnessed the fight.

The force asked for Blackpool Council's Licensing Panel to review the licence at its meeting last week and consider all options, up to and including the licence being revoked, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Reported minutes of the meeting, released this week said: "There had been an issue with the CCTV on the premises where the quality had hampered investigations into possible crimes.

"Sergeant Nat Cox highlighted the improvements since the review had been submitted and noted the designated premises supervisor had been replaced which had been one of the key issues and a number of conditions had been agreed."

Tony Lyons, licensing consultant, on behalf of the licence holder, Dorbriere Limited, expressed regret at the incidents that had occurred, and told of the pro-active steps that it had already taken to address the issues.

These included the replacement of the previous premises supervisor.

Lyons added Dorbriere Limited had hired a new security firm and had installed an upgraded CCTV system.

It was confirmed that it accepted the proposed conditions.

The licensing panel report said it had given "consideration to revoking or suspending the licence but considered that the additional conditions would allow the premises to avoid the same problems in the future."

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