‘Nuisance’ Wolverhampton pub loses licence for second time
A ‘nuisance’ Wolverhampton pub has lost its licence for the second time in two years, following a catalogue of angry complaints from neighbours and repeated incidents where police were called.
The Pendulum, in Blaydon Road, Pendeford, previously had its licence revoked in May 2020, after officers caught people drinking inside the premises during the Covid lockdown. The pub was later allowed to reopen subject to a number of conditions.
Police chiefs applied for the latest review this week after reports that the venue, which is in the Oxley ward, was failing to uphold licensing objectives and had links to criminal activities.
During a visit in February this year, officers found three males living at the pub who were working illegally. The premises also operates a car wash on its car park.
Prior to making its decision to once again revoke the licence, the council’s licensing committee heard from pub boss Mr Mohammed Khalil Ali, who apologised for the matters reported.
He said: “This is the first enterprise that I have undertaken in respect of running a licensed premises on my own. I have found that it has been very difficult to both relaunch the pub after its extended closure and the present financial climate.
“I have realised that in running the pub I require help and assistance. In this respect I have engaged a manager who will be tasked with specifically undertaking all the issues that have been raised by the council.”
Council solicitor David Abel told the hearing that the premises had a history of complaints and no attempts had been made to rectify any breaches of the licensing conditions.
For several years a number of residents living near the pub have called for it be shut down and demolished, saying they have had enough of constant late night noise and repeated anti-social behaviour.
One letter to the council said the pub didn’t care about “the nuisance they make of themselves”.
Another added: “When I first moved to the area, it was a well-run, family-friendly pub. This is a far cry from the current situation. It appears that for many years now the pub has been run by landlords who just don’t care about the local residents.
“If you mention the pub to local people they don’t have a good word to say about it – and they are certainly not using it.”
The committee told Mr Ali that he has the right to appeal the decision.
