'One of worst behaved' fish bars in Staffordshire has licence revoked

Sea Line Fish Bar in Cannock town centre consistently flouted the law by failing to employ doormen or install CCTV after 11pm.

Owner Umit Maman, who ploughed £100,000 into the business after taking it over seven months ago, said afterwards that it was 'the wrong decision'.

He admitted 22 breaches of the licensing laws, including opening on New Year's Eve until 3am despite strict warnings by police and the council that he could not.

Licensing chairman Frank Allen said the fish bar was 'badly mananaged by a man with little regard' for the law.

Police have referred the case to the Crown Prosection Service which will investigate whether to bring criminal charges. The committee heard that 'a catalogue' of criminal offences had been committed.

Mr Maman, a 41-year-old from Turkey, opened the business in High Green, formerly Chez Woz, last September after spending three months revamping the place.

But he had failed to notify Cannock Chase District Council of the new ownership, the name change or the new layout as required under the terms of premises licence.

A new licence was later issued but Mr Maman repeatedly ignored warnings that he should employ a door supervisor from 11pm onwards.

When advised by licensing officer Pc David Evans of the need for a door supervisor, Mr Maman told him he would 'see how it goes' before taking on someone.

The shop owner subsequently took on a bouncer but he did not start till midnight.

Mr Maman told Cannock licensing sub-committee yesterday(TUE) that other licensed premises in the town did not employ security staff until 12am and that it was 'not fair' given how quiet it was between 11pm and 12am.

He also claimed not to have understood officials when they spelled out the19 conditions of his licence because his English was not good enough.

However committee members were not convinced. They were particularly unimpressed by Mr Maman's decision to remain open until 4am on New Year's Day(2014).

Permission had been refused because his application was incomplete and because of his previous contempt of the rules but he was still open at 3am, two hours after the shop should have shut.

When questioned later he admitted it had been 'a big mistake'.

Mr Maman said there had never been any trouble at the premises and promised not to flout the licensing laws again but the committee decided he had been given enough chances.

He said after the hearing that he may have to shed some of his seven staff as a result.

Pc Evans welcomed the result. "I'm pleased with the committee's support in this matter. A lot of time and hard work went into the investigation."