New website to report pubs that flout licence conditions

The website, ‘Fix My Pub’, is based on the popular ‘Fix My Street’ site, an open forum allowing residents to record issues associated with street infrastructure. The site keeps a record of repeated problems and forwards them onto the responsible authority.

Sheffield City Centre Residents’ Action Group (SCCRAG) proposed the new version after claiming it repeatedly supported residents who have had problems with pubs infringing the terms of their licence.

'Clash'​

SCCRAG chairman Peter Sephton said: “The night-time economy is a valuable part of city life but there is a clash between some licensed premises and residents living nearby.

“We have no problems with managers who respect their neighbours, but we do have some with those who create problems for people living nearby.”

Sephton believes the website will create a more responsive facility to measure local concerns.

The residents’ group is commissioning a version of the site that can work both locally and nationally showing key information about the pub, including the licensing conditions, the names of the designated premises supervisors, the name of the area manager and which group operates the premises.

Complaints​

Previous complaints from residents include a complex of pubs and restaurants below an apartment block allowing customers to sit outside when their licence stipulates outside tables cannot be occupied after 10.30pm. The residents claimed they were kept awake by the noise, and there was not a suitable way to record their problems.

Sephton said: “We do not aim to persecute the licensed trade – merely to ensure that it respects the needs of neighbours, observes the terms of its licence and acts in a responsible manner.”

A spokesperson from Sheffield City Council said: “Any initiative that encourages members of the public to raise issues of concern is to be welcomed.”