Pub stripped of PEL for breaching safety laws
by John Harrington
A Spirit pub in Newquay, in which a barman was spotted juggling with blazing bottles of spirits and setting fire to the bar, has had its public entertainment licence revoked for breaching a number of health and safety laws.
Nick Hibbett, head of environment and health at Restormel Borough Council, said the Newquay Arms was the worst example of bad practice at a pub he had seen.
Spirit said it is to appeal against the decision and a new manager has been appointed at the bar.
Hibbett said several complaints about the pub were lodged by police and council licensing officers, by fire officers and by residents during the summer. Complaints included fire doors being locked or left open to allow "horrific" levels of noise to escape, and the use of door staff who were not properly registered.
One complainant noted that a barman was seen juggling bottles of spirits with rags in them that were lit with lighter fuel. After this, the barman sprayed the lighter fuel onto 8ft of the bar area and set the bar alight.
The council's licensing committee revoked the PEL at the Newquay Arms on Monday last week after hearing evidence from the police and the council, as well as from members of the public.
"This was a manager who had lost control," said Hibbett, who presented the case against the Newquay Arms on behalf of the council. "We made a very strong case that [the manager] was not a fit and proper person to hold a licence."
Spirit said: "As a responsible pub operator, Spirit Group has a clear policy on responsible drinking and does not promote or condone irresponsible drinking or behaviour in any of our pubs. Our main priority is to provide a safe and enjoyable environment for our customers and we aim to deliver consistently high standards.
"We plan to appeal against this decision with a new manager in place at the Newquay Arms. We will also be working closely with the police and the licensingcommittee to take appropriatemeasures to ensure that the pub continues to provide a great customer experience."
