Higham Ferrers pub given formal warning for Covid-19 breach

A Higham Ferrers pub that ignored social distancing rules on re-opening day has been given a formal warning.

East Northants Council’s licensing panel said it had ‘seriously considered’ removing the Green Dragon Hotel’s Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) Linda Morgan due to the incident on July 4, but had decided to give her another chance. Instead a number of new stricter licensing conditions have been imposed on the popular pub in College Street.

At the licence review last month Northants’ licencing police officer David Bryan said the Green Dragon Hotel was 'the most problematic in the county’ on re-opening day, when 200 young revellers crammed into the venue. The hearing heard that drinkers were queued ten deep at the outside bar, that staff were not wearing personal protective equipment and council officers who went along to investigate called 999 after fearing for their safety.

After five hours of evidence the licensing panel went off to deliberate in private and their decision now published on East Northants’ Council’s website says: “The main reasons for the review were in relation to public safety and the prevention of public nuisance. The request for the review relates to issues observed following the relaxation of Covid-19 lockdown rules on 4 July 2020 and complaints received relating to the general management of the premises. The Licensing Panel have considered all the above and are of the unanimous view that on a balance of probability the Green Dragon Public House is not currently promoting the licensing objectives of preventing public nuisance.

“The panel have, therefore, decided unanimously that it is appropriate and proportionate to issue a formal warning to the Premises Licence Holder and the DPS. The panel had seriously considered removing the DPS, and a possible suspension of the Premises Licence. Such action was not taken after taking into consideration the representations made on behalf of the Licence Holder and the personal statement from the current DPS who admitted non-compliance with the current conditions and further reassured the panel of her intention to fully comply with all of the current conditions of the Premises Licence in the future.”

The new conditions include new orders on the number of door supervisors (dependent on the number of drinkers), banning customers from leaving with drinks and allowing outdoor music at weekends only.

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