The Bond Street Tavern: Wolverhampton pub has licence revoked after violence
A city centre pub where two people were stabbed has been shut down indefinitely.
Wolverhampton council’s licensing sub-committee took the decision to revoke Bond Street Tavern’s licence for good yesterday.
The committee concluded the pub and its owner Derek Minnott had ‘significantly breached’ licensing conditions.
There were also concerns over ‘inadequate’ search procedures and potential criminal activity taking place as visitors were ‘likely’ allowed to smoke and do drugs.
The pub’s licence was revoked last year but it reopened with conditions following an appeal heard by magistrates.
It then shut down last month after two people were left needing 15 stitches to mend wounds suffered during a ‘melee’ at the premises.
West Midlands Police has since claimed a number of conditions were breached by staff and applied for the licence to be revoked indefinitely.
Councillor Alan Bolshaw, the chairman of the licensing sub-committee, said: “The committee believe insufficient progress has been made by the premises to address the ongoing issues, and we have decided to revoke the premises’ licence.”
Mr Minnott had tried to argue that police were trying to discredit him.
He said he had worked with police to curb illegal activity at the venue, despite officers claiming little progress had been made.
He told the committee: “The police have been through on numerous occasions and never have they criticised the way security was done.
"They are trying to paint me out as if I’m not cooperating and not working with them – I am.
"I’m doing everything they’re asking me to do. I’m constantly trying to work with the police.”
