Blackpool pub has licence suspended for Christmas
A Blackpool town centre pub has had its licence suspended for eight weeks after failing three underage test purchases.
The Tapas Bar in Queen Street failed tests carried out by local weights & measures officers between March and August this year, two of them within the space of a week.
A review hearing instigated by the weights and measures department and supported by Blackpool police also heard the pub had been the scene of numerous disturbances, rowdy behaviour and drunkenness.
The town's licensing committee also imposed nine separate conditions on the pub's licence including upgrade of the CCTV system, introduction of ID card scanning equipment, extra training for doormen, compulsory use of polycarbonate glasses, a requirement for 20% of the floorspace to have seating and a ban on customers holding glass bottles after 9pm each night.
Failures
During the hearing it was revealed the pub's premises licence had been suspended for six weeks after test purchase failures in 2007.
The three test purchase failures earlier this year followed teenagers being allowed to buy alcohol without being challenged by doormen or barstaff.
The committee was told the Tapas Bar had successfully passed 10 test purchases before the latest failures.
Solicitor Anthony Horne, of Manchester-based Licensing Legal who represented the council's weights and measures department, said:" It is unfortunate that these premises have had to be brought back before the committee.
"There is no doubt in my mind there was an unacceptable amount of drunkenness allowed to take place."
The licence suspension is due to begin on 17 December and will continue over Christmas and the new year holiday period.
The Punch leased pub is currently still trading with the operators having 21 days from the date of the review hearing on 26 November in which to lodge an appeal.
The licensees were unavailable for comment.
A spokesperson from Punch Taverns said: "We will be working closely with the licensing authority and our partner to ensure that the Tapas Bar provides a responsible retailing environment for its guests. We also are actively considering appeal against the licensing suspension."
