Torridge District Council has taken strong action against the Talbot Inn pub in Bideford for persistent failure to comply with licensing laws.

At a hearing on 4th May to review the premises licence for the Talbot Inn, the Council’s Licensing sub-Committee was told by Devon & Cornwall Constabulary who had called the review that there had been a string of serious offences at the premises over a period of some three years.  Most of these related to drunkenness and disorder and resulted in a number of warnings being given to the licence holder and premises supervisor, Christopher Robson.  Despite such warnings, the sub-Committee heard that disorderly behaviour continued resulting in a serious incident on 11th February this year when a customer who was intoxicated was taped to a chair in an unconscious state by other customers at the premises and dragged out into Bideford High Street.  The sub-Committee were told that the customer had been left in the street in freezing temperatures and could have died.  Police officers at the scene had to call an ambulance and the person was taken to North Devon District Hospital for emergency treatment.

The sub-Committee heard that the problems at the premises were caused by poor and inadequate management.  Staff were poorly trained, had little understanding of licensing regulations and failed to exercise proper control over customers.  Having heard evidence from the police and the licence holder, the Council decided to suspend the premises licence for six weeks in order for improved management policies and procedures to be implemented.  In addition, the Council decided to remove Mr Robson as the premises supervisor on the grounds that he had shown that he was incapable of managing the premises effectively and could not control the behaviour of his customers.  The Council also imposed a number of tough new conditions on the pub’s licence designed to improve standards and gave the premises a final warning in the form of a ‘yellow card’ which must be permanently displayed at the premises.

“I am pleased that the Licensing Committee have taken robust action against these premises”, said, PC Paul Daw of Devon & Cornwall Constabulary. “The Talbot Inn was not being run properly and lacked effective management. The majority of licensed premises in Bideford are well run and the trade takes its responsibilities very seriously. However, the Police will always take strong action against any premises that breaches licensing conditions and causes problems in the community”.        

“The yellow card is a visible statement that the Council has put the premises ‘on probation’”, said Councillor Andy Boyd, Chair of the Council’s Licensing Committee.  “If there are any further offences or failure to comply with the conditions of the premises licence, the Council will look to revoke the licence completely.  Licensees have a duty to ensure that their business does not have a detrimental effect on the wider community.  They must take their responsibilities seriously or face the consequences”.

Ray Webster, the Council’s Head of Environmental Health, Housing, Planning & Public Protection said:

“Most licensed premises in Torridge are well managed but this decision will send a strong message to the small minority of licensees who fail to run their premises properly that the licensing authority will not tolerate irresponsible behaviour.  We try to work co-operatively with licensees and the Council only takes action like this when all other enforcement options have been explored.  Sadly, when licensees fail to heed repeated warnings, we have no option but to take strong action in order to promote the licensing objectives and protect the public”.

The suspension of the licence follows successful partnership working once again between Torridge District Council’s Licensing Team and the Police, and is part of a programme of risk-based enforcement targeted at problem licensed premises.