Troubled Dudley pub once branded 'danger to the public' applies for new licence
A Dudley pub has applied for a new licence – six years after it was labelled a “danger to the public” for its links with gang activity.
The Queens Cross, formerly The Earl of Dudley Arms, was closed in 2016 following a complaint from West Midlands Police.
Magistrates heard that police had been called to the pub more than 60 times in two years to deal with a range of crimes, including five serious assaults, a robbery and an attempted murder.
Detective Chief Inspector Chris Hanson, formerly of West Midlands Police, said at the time that throughout his 24 years of experience he could not recall another premises that posed a danger to the public.
He also raised concerns that a “serious incident could occur should the premises remain open” and therefore requested that the premises licence be revoked.
DCI Hanson said: “It was clear that there was a prolonged history of violence associated to the premises. There had been convincing intelligence that the premises had a stronghold gang influence, based on the convictions and arrests and links to Class A drugs and that members of the local gang were known to attend the premises.”
The pub, on Wellington Road, had previously been granted a time-limited licence in February 2021 which expired at the start of this year. It will now have the chance to start afresh should a new licence be granted.
The applicant had decided to change the name of the premises from The Earl of Dudley to The Queens Cross to give the premises a new brand and hopefully give assurances that the premises would now be operated as a family-friendly establishment.
Dudley Council press office said: “The Queens Cross, formerly The Earl of Dudley Arms, was granted a time-limited licence in February 2021 for 12 months to allow the applicant time to prove they could run a licensed premises and uphold the licensing objectives set in the Licensing Act 2003.
“The licence holder never applied to renew that licence and therefore the premises licence expired in February 2022.
“We have a new application being processed at the moment and have received representations with regard to this new application so, subject to those representations not being withdrawn, the matter will be placed before a Licensing and Safety Sub-Committee for determination in due course.”
By Local Democracy reporter Josh Horritt
