Legal threat to Pubwatches averted

A major threat to the future of Pubwatch schemes has been averted by a decision in the High Court, according to a leading licensing lawyer.

High Court judge, Mr Ockelton QC, last week denied pub customer Matthew Proud the chance to launch a judicial review over a Pubwatch ban on him entering licensed premises in Buckingham.

Proud, banned for an alleged attack at a Buckingham pub, had his original written appeal knocked back on June 12, but continued with his bid to force a judicial review.

Claire Eames, a partner at solicitors Poppleston Allen, acting on behalf of Buckingham Pubwatch at the oral permission hearing, said: "Our argument was that a Pubwatch scheme is not performing a public function so is not liable to a judicial review.

"There is a need for Pubwatches to be flexible to react to the need of their localities. If it was decided that people could challenge these decisions it could have been the end of Pubwatches."

Eames also argued that as pubs are private premises, they have a "common law" right to refuse service to customers.

Tony Diston, chairman of Buckingham Pubwatch and licensee at the Royal Oak, in Tingewick, near Buckingham, was at the hearing. He welcomed the result, saying it was "superb".

"This is great news for every Pubwatch up and down the country," he said. "It takes the pressure off and means they can make these types of decisions unchallenged."