‘Horror’ pub regains licence to residents’ dismay

A pub that lost its licence for causing neighbours “absolute sheer terror and horror” and flouting Covid rules has had its right to serve pints restored, to the dismay of residents.

Bristol City Council, whose licensing sub-committee ruled last year The Bull Inn should be shut down following a request by the authority’s own neighbourhood enforcement team backed by the police, has reached an agreement allowing it to stay open.

A councillor who lives yards from the premises in Crews Hole accused the local authority of “stabbing residents in the back” by not defending its decision last August at magistrates’ court after the pub launched an appeal.

The council says no further complaints have been made since then and the decision to cancel the premises licence revocation was made following legal advice and the input of the licensing sub-committee.

A source said the council understood it would “lose, and lose big” and be ordered to pay costs, funded by the taxpayer, if it went before magistrates.

Lorraine Francis is a green councillor for Eastville – photo: Amanda Cameron

Speaking as a resident who lives near the pub, Lorraine Francis, city councillor for Eastville ward, said: “It feels as if the council has stabbed myself and other local residents in the back with this decision.

“It sets a shocking example to the rest of the city that this pub will be able to resume business as usual after repeatedly flouting lockdown and Covid restrictions over the last two years.

“Many residents have written to me over the past 10 months with complaints about noise pollution and the impact on their health and how they have struggled to be heard.

“But it feels like this decision is telling residents to shut up and put up – that is not acceptable.”

The council has restored the pub’s licence without a hearing – photo: Ellie Pipe

Avon & Somerset Police told the hearing officers spent a disproportionate amount of time at the premises dealing with disorder, nuisance, reports of mass brawls and alleged threats to cut throats.

They said management were rude and swore at officers attending incidents, while music was turned up after neighbours complained about noise.

But regulars submitted a petition at the City Hall meeting and told the panel the “much-loved community pub” should be saved, despite the council fining the establishment £1,000 and £2,000 for multiple Covid breaches, neither of which had been paid.

The Bull’s managers insisted they had been victims of false and malicious reports to police of dozens of people fighting and that officers would arrive to find no evidence of a disturbance.

They said they had turned it into a “family friendly” venue after getting rid of a biker gang and a “drug element”.

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Read more: Pub of the Week: The Bull Inn

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A Bristol City Council spokesperson said today the decision to reinstate the licence prior to an appeal hearing was made following the “input of legal advice and the licensing sub-committee”.

They said: “The premises had been operating since the review hearing in August 2021, pending the outcome of an appeal.

“No further complaints relating to the licensing of the premises were received during that time.”

Main photo: Ellie Pipe

Read more: Pub landlord appeals to overturn decision to revoke licence

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