Pubs told to clean up their act or face licence review (From Echo)

Pubs told to clean up their act or face licence review

9:50am Friday 30th December 2011 in Rayleigh / Rochford

TWO pubs must improve or face closure following increased complaints about trouble and noise.

The Spread Eagle, in High Street, Rayleigh, and the Marlborough Head, in West Street, Rochford, may now undergo licence reviews in the new year.

In the meantime, Sgt Danny Barnes, of Essex Police’s licensing unit, will try to thrash out conditions with the pub’s bosses so the hearings can be avoided.

Sgt Barnes said: “The Marlborough Head has had a number of incidents which have caused us concern.

“We have received complaints of noise and disturbances, recently this resulted in a gentleman being glassed, which we have linked to the premises.

“As a result we feel the licensing objectives are being undermined and this needs to be reviewed.”

With regards to the Spread Eagle, Sgt Barnes said the gripes were of a similar nature and there had been a recent increase in noise and disturbances.

He said: “They have had a number of incidents since 2007.

“But more recently we have seen an increase in terms of noise nuisance and disturbances and we feel it is above what we would expect from a premises of that size.”

Andrea Ballard, landlady at the Marlborough Head, said: “We have three entrances and, unfortunately, we can’t watch all three at once.

“But we have had bouncers working on Friday and Saturday nights for the past two weeks as we do not want any trouble here and we will be happy to co-operate with the police.”

Representations need to be made by January 11 and should be sent to the Licensing Unit, Rochford District Council, 3 – 19 South Street, Rochford.

The Spread Eagle failed to answer repeated calls from the Echo.