Veteran landlord wants to prove Wednesbury bar plagued by violence will be trouble free
The veteran landlord who hopes to take over a Black Country bar dogged by violence has promised to fill the place with an older clientèle during the afternoon.
Anthony Melia is determined to turn Seven Bar into a safe and trouble free venue, which will improve Wednesbury's night time economy.
In the past, the bar has been the scene of stabbings, violent assaults, robbery and attempted murder.
The bar's licence was revoked after police attended the Lower High Street venue 26 times over a 12-month period with the long list of violent activity including when an a man who was believed to have been stabbed was still served whilst slumped over the bar.
West Midlands Police has objected to the venue reopening, saying it will "seriously undermine the prevention of crime and disorder".
The premises, which formerly was called The Turk's Head, has been a pub for more than 130 years and Mr Melia believes the people of Wednesbury want it returned to its former glory.
To prove the new regime will not attract trouble Mr Melia has applied for a series of temporary event licences at the bar in December.
He told the Express & Star: "The people of Wednesbury love the place and want to see it back open and being run properly.
"All the previous problems were down to bad management. There will not be any trouble in the place if I am running it because I have run every pub in Wednesbury and know who the troublemakers are, they will not get near the place.
"When I managed the bar in 2016 we had no problems, and I was there nearly two years."
The 51-year-old said: "We want to open up for a few weekends before Christmas for a few music nights to show the place has changed.
"I will be aiming for an older crowd, who like good music and maybe some karaoke, our busy times will be during the afternoon and early evening. There are enough people in Wednesbury who like going out during the day."
Under the new application the venue would sell booze until 2am on Fridays and Saturdays and midnight on other days.
CCTV will be installed and there will be a 'refusals register', detailing occasions when customers have been refused service.
West Midlands Police, Sandwell Council environmental health and licensing enforcement officials, Wednesbury north and south councillors have all objected to the new licence.
The hearing will be held next week.
