Host faces ruin over licence woes

A South Wales licensee claims he is close to bankruptcy because of constant opposition to his licence. Kevin Williams, who runs the Blaze Bar at Aberdare, said that if councils take over the licensing function as planned, then it could be the end for his business. He is already battling to gain the renewal of his entertainments licence following opposition from police and residents and now faces an appeal hearing in the Crown Court after it was turned down by the council and magistrates. The case follows two years of battles to gain various licences and extensions for his pub. Williams said the council had admitted that there had not been any problems on his premises, and police had only been involved when he had called them to deal with an incident involving drugs. He said the former nightclub was virtually derelict when he took it over, but it was more than six months before he gained a licence after lodging a Crown Court appeal when it was first refused by magistrates. He then faced further opposition when he applied for an hour's extension to stage charity events at the pub and also when he later applied for a licence for other parts of the multi-storey building. Williams said: "My trade is around £1,000 down each weekend because customers aren't sure whether there is any entertainment on even though it is while the appeal is pending.