Fights, crashes and Covid lock-ins: 'Nightmare' Walsall pub loses licence
A Walsall pub which became a hotbed of trouble and left nearby residents “living in fear” has lost its licence despite the “difficult” former boss being kicked out.
Between October 2019 and December last year, King George V in Wallows Lane was the scene of a raft incidents including a car ramming the front of the property, “horrific” brawls in the street and drinking after hours.
A series of breaches of Covid regulations were also committed, a meeting of Walsall Council’s licensing committee heard.
Neil Barnes, of pub owners Admiral Taverns, said they had chosen not to renew tenancy agreements with former designated premises supervisor (DPS) Raman Singh and had taken sole possession of the pub with a view to sell it.
West Midlands Police, who originally called for the licence to be revoked, said they were happy for it to continue now Mr Singh was no longer in the picture.
But committee members felt the company should have acted sooner and chose to revoke the licence.
Walsall Police’s licensing officer Jennifer Mellor said they had originally tried to work with Mr Singh to address issues and give him a chance but to no avail.
Police data showed there had been 19 incidents of disorder between October 2019 and January 2020.
Further reports of anti-social behaviour were received between March and December, before a prohibition notice was served on the venue.
Jennifer Mellor added that residents living close to the pub endured noise disturbances while officers found Mr Singh “evasive” when trying to retrieve CCTV footage.
She said: “There have been fights, there has been disorder, been breaches of Covid and his neighbours are in fear and it has given them so many sleepless nights.
“We have to ensure the neighbours feel safe and we have to ensure the nuisance they have been subjected to doesn’t happen again.
“We’d got a vehicle ramming the premises where the DPS’ relatives were involved and on the August 9 came a report the pub was open beyond the hours on its licence and it was still open at 3am.
“[On another occasion] a group of males all ran out to join a fight that was occurring in the car wash next door, these people have joined in and it’s overspilled into the carriageway. It was quite horrific.
“I started to get emails from neighbours who were beginning to be in fear and dread each and every weekend. You can imagine the nightmare nearby residents have endured.”
She said CCTV footage from December last year showed punters inside the pub standing at the bar, drinking with very little social distancing when Covid rules stated table service only.
On Christmas Eve, eight people were found inside the King George V and fixed penalty notices were issued.
Jennifer Mellor said: “Raman told officers it was his family and it was no different to shopping in Morrisons. But it’s not a crime to shop in Morrisons during Covid.
“The police have tried to work with Raman Singh and Admiral but to be fair to Admiral, Raman is a very difficult person to work with.
“He tells you one thing but does a completely different thing when you are out of sight.”
Mr Barnes said: “We have worked closely with the police and it’s unfortunate it has come to this stage. We do have possession of the site and Mr Raman has been removed.”
He added Mr Singh had initially entered into an agreement to buy the pub but failed to raise the money in time. Mr Barnes assured members Admiral would not sell or transfer the licence to Mr Singh or his family.
Walsall Council’s solicitor Dominic Patouchas said: “The cause of the issues is the now absent DPS.
“But Admiral Taverns should and could have done more earlier and to that extent, the committee finds there has been a dereliction of duty.
“For that reason, the committee feels it’s appropriate for the licence to be revoked.”
