Home Office drawn into Hastings battle
A leading Hastings licensee is to meet Home Office officials to resolve the dispute over the council's hardline approach to licence reviews.
Stephen Goodfellow, licensee at the Havelock Arms, waged a five-month battle against the local authority over conditions, which included handing out lollipops and bottles of water — and playing nursery rhymes at closing time. He also involved his local MP Michael Foster to try to convince the authorities to drop the "absolutely absurd" conditions.
The council backed down from imposing the conditions before Goodfellow and Foster were to meet the chief constable to discuss the council's approach.
Goodfellow has been elected as chairman of the local pubwatch group and plans to help other licensees in the town who are facing harsh licence conditions. This week he will meet with police, the town-centre manager, a representative from police and council-backed Safer Hastings group, and a Home Office official to discuss solving the town's problems.
Conditions forcing venues to abide by Challenge 25 and banning glass containers after 9pm on weekend nights, bank holidays and other "special occasions", were imposed at three freehold pubs in George Street. A further three venues owned by Shepherd Neame have already negotiated slightly less restrictive conditions.
Street drinking after 10pm has also been banned and the personal licence holder must supervise the drinking area at peak times.
Licensees lodge appeals with Hastings Council
Two of the three hosts facing tough new conditions have lodged appeals with the council. Their cases will now go before magistrates.
Paddy Piggott, of the Dragon's Bar, also serves food in his restaurant section. He said: "If I serve someone a bottle of Champagne with their meal I must decant it into a plastic jug and serve it in plastic glasses after 9pm."
Symon Moth, of the Black Market, couldn't understand why pubs in George Street were being targeted. He said sales at both his and Piggott's premises were at least 50% food-based, and neither offered drinks promotions.
The third licensee, Dale Seymour of Venuu, said he hasn't appealed as the conditions won't impact his business. He runs a private function hall.
