Rothwell gin bar owner fined thousands for selling booze illegally

A businessman who continued to sell alcohol at his unlicensed gin bar after being warned several times by police has been fined thousands of pounds.

Lee Thorn who is involved with the Gin Palace in Rothwell pleaded guilty to eleven offences under the licensing act at Northampton Magistrates court on Monday.

He was handed fines of £2781, a victims surcharge of £30 and given a £3083 costs bill for the offences which included six of unauthorised licensable activities, five offences of keeping alcohol on a premises for unauthorised sale and another of exposing alcohol for unauthorised sale.

The offences took place at the popular venue in Market Hill, Rothwell between March and July last year after Mr Thorn took it over. Despite being warned several times by police and council officers he continued to sell alcohol to customers and also advertised live entertainment when he did not have a premises licence.

At a licensing hearing last autumn Mr Thorn, who is a former director of Kettering Town Football Club, had blamed paperwork issues and not being able to understand the licensing process for the error.

At that hearing he was banned from having a premises licence but several weeks later the same panel granted a licence, which means the venue can now sell alcohol legally. After hearing of Mr Thorn’s finance struggles trying to keep the venue afloat, the panel said it could see no reason to refuse the licence, which is held by Rothwell Leisure Limited.

Head of Public Services at Kettering Council Shirley Plenderleith said: “This was a blatant disregard for licensing laws. Despite being told that a licence was required, Mr Thorn continued to trade illegally. This case makes it quite clear that the Authorities will take formal action where breaches of the Licensing Act 2003 are found and claimed ignorance of the law is not a defence”.

Note to editors

The Gin Palace has been contacted for comment but the phone has not been answered.