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West Bridgford
Sunday, February 16, 2025

Nottingham pub landlord has licence removed and pub closed after several incidents including Covid-19 law breaches

Further reports have also been investigated of bottles and glasses being thrown and used as weapons by customers involved in a large fight outside the Main Street pub.

A landlord has had his licence removed and pub closed following a catalogue of errors including breaching Covid-19 rules by allowing groups of people to mix.

In a first for the county the Queen’s Head in Kimberley was served with a temporary banning order two months ago after failing to keep people safe by following strict Covid rules.

Since then Nottinghamshire Police has worked with district licensing officers after looking into a string of previous crime and disorder incidents involving this pub.

This included two police officers being assaulted during one disturbance while they dealt with an offender and a man suffering a fractured cheek and eye socket after being assaulted in the beer garden in another incident.

Further reports have also been investigated of bottles and glasses being thrown and used as weapons by customers involved in a large fight outside the Main Street pub.

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The issues culminated in September when Nottinghamshire County Council working with Broxtowe Borough Council and the police took swift action to close the pub down following deliberate breaches of Covid-19 rules, including refusing to follow track and trace procedures and allowing social distancing breaches.

This was despite the landlord being given repeated warnings prior to this.

Now, following a meeting last week of Broxtowe Borough Council’s alcohol and entertainments licensing committee, the pub’s premises licence has been revoked.

Chair of the Alcohol and Entertainments Licensing Committee, Councillor David Bagshaw, said: “Our officers, working together with partners, are always willing to advise and provide guidance to businesses to make sure they are following the rules and the law and it is incredibly frustrating when they refuse to co-operate.

“It has been a tough time for businesses over the last few months but that is no excuse for disregarding the health and safety of customers, staff and the emergency services. We want Broxtowe to be a place where everyone feels safe and we won’t tolerate businesses or individuals who stand in the way of this.

“I would like to put on record my thanks to those involved in this case and ensuring that local people are kept safe and protected.”

Inspector Simon Riley, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “Despite repeated warnings, visits and continued support and guidance given by authorities, the Queen’s Head’s premises licence holder took little notice and refused to put measures in place to assist in reducing and stopping crime and disorder at the pub.

“This disregard to operate the premises in a safe and responsible manner included persistent non-compliance with Covid-19 legislation by failing to ensure that guests were social distancing and to enforce the track and trace system.

“We strive to work in partnership with our licensed premises and we support well-managed and safe establishments to thrive but all businesses have a responsibility – not only to their staff and customers but to the wider community.

“We will not tolerate behaviour which endangers the public and has a significant negative impact on local residents’ quality of life.

“We will continue to take action against licence holders who think they can act outside of the rules and show no regard for following licensing objectives and operating their premises in a safe and responsible manner.”

A number of the reported incidents of crime and disorder at the pub took place since August, mainly at weekends.

Incidents reported to police included assaults as well as anti-social behaviour from customers entering and leaving the pub. Complaints were also received about noise and underage drinking.

The revocation of the pub’s premises licence is subject to a 21-day appeal period.

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