Licensing mix-up hits pub's trade

Police have threatened to close a Norwich pub for serving drinks in bottles after a licensing mix-up.

An error in the licence application for the Murderers pub in Timber Hill stated that all drinks would be served in glasses.

Bar supervisor John Ashley said the mistake has had a negative impact on trade: "It just looks unprofessional if a couple comes into the restaurant area for a meal and you have to keep their wine bottle behind the bar."​

Ashley said police gave the outlet 28 days to comply: "We carried on serving bottles because we thought we had 28 days to sort it out - but the police said they would shut us down if we continued. This seemed heavy handed."​

The Murderers also failed to say they offered drinks promotions on their licence and the pub is no longer allowed to advertise two for one or happy hour deals.

Ashley said the pub had never had any run-ins with police: "We don't have any trouble here and now we've been threatened with closure because we serve drinks in bottles."​

A Norfolk police spokesman said: "Conditions may be attached to a licence to help prevent crime and disorder, to protect public safety. In some cases there is a requirement that drinks will not be served in bottles. Where conditions are attached to a licence it is right that the police enforce them."​

The Murderers has submitted an amended application form to Norwich City Council