Restaurant to appeal after alcohol licence revoked

An East Sussex restaurant which experienced a gas leak where 16 people were treated for suspected carbon monoxide poisoning has had its alcohol licence revoked following a review.

On Wednesday, Hastings Borough Council (HBC) assessed a review application for the Grand Pera restaurant in Harold Place, Hastings, amid concerns over a lack of "confidence" in the owner's ability to manage the premises.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the licensing committee also amended the restaurant's premises licence, removing its ability to sell hot food after 23:00 BST.

Mustafa Ergun, licence holder for Grand Pera, told the BBC that he intends to appeal the decision.

The review for Grand Pera had been brought by HBC's licensing team, as a result of what officers described as a "failure of the operator to promote the licensing objectives due to ongoing issues with multiple breaches of conditions".

Some concerns related to a major incident at the premises in December, which resulted in several people being taken to hospital with suspected carbon monoxide poisoning.

Environmental health officer Sharon White said the leak was identified as coming from "a petrol generator located in a corridor" of the restaurant and "had the potential to result in fatalities".

At Wednesday's meeting, she added: "Off that incident seven people had to go to hospital and at least one person stayed in hospital overnight due to the effects of carbon monoxide poisoning."

Another alleged breach related to serving alcohol to customers sitting outside, which was not included in the restaurant's licence.

Ergun told HBC that he had improved his management processes since these breaches were made, asking the committee to "not only consider what went wrong in the past, but also what I have learned".

Stewart Bryant, the council's lead licensing practitioner, argued the damage had already been done.

Mr Bryant said: "There has been negligence, there's been avoidance and what we have now effectively is closing the door after the horse has bolted."

Speaking after the decision was confirmed, Ergun added: "Until the appeal process is concluded, the premises licence and the restaurant's existing operating conditions remain in effect, and Grand Pera continues to operate as normal."

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