A Ferryhill pub caught serving underage drinkers has vowed to improve after its licence was suspended.
Durham police said CCTV footage showed a group of underage males drinking inside The White Horse from 5pm until closing time on Saturday, March 15 without being challenged for ID by staff members.
The Market Street pub’s licence was suspended by Durham County Council last week pending a full review hearing.
Sergeant Caroline Dickenson, from Durham Constabulary, said: “They are seen to buy numerous drinks from the bar and consume them within the premises.
“At no point are they challenged by any members of staff. Whilst viewing the footage it was also identified that there were a number of people on pub watch bans within the premises.”
Five teenagers were arrested after a 25-year-old man was stabbed outside the Greyhound pub on Market Street in the early hours of Sunday, March 16.
David Crawford-Emery, owner of the White Horse, said a new management team from outside the area has recently taken over the pub and is new to Ferryhill.
He told a hearing last Monday: “This unfortunate incident is an example of something that may have arisen from being unfamiliar with the local community.
“The new broom that has come into town is there to clean up any previous concerns. Given the opportunity to operate the premises on a more responsible basis and to prove the long-term resource for Ferryhill is a benefit for the community.”
Yet, he criticised Durham Constabulary’s conduct following the incident.
“I feel that the police have peppered their comments with unproven emotive language in an unfair attempt to prejudice these proceedings,” Mr Crawford-Emery added.
Stephen Charlesworth, pub manager, said the person working behind the bar was unaware that children were not allowed inside the venue after 6pm.
Saturday, March 15 was described as the pub’s busiest day under the new management and surprised staff, given the usual clientele is between 60 and 70 years old.
Mr Charlesworth said: “Out of the blue we were just mega busy that Saturday. We were up against it. The 14-year-old should not have been on the premises. I hold my hands up but there is no evidence to say they were drinking.”
The initial licensing hearing also voted to remove the designated premises supervisor at The White Horse.
“I feel we have let the community down with this event,” added Mr Charlesworth. “We have learned a big lesson and hopefully, we can work with the police and get this right.
“We are not from this area, we don’t know the community. We are trying very hard to make this a community pub.
“We’ve got four people hanging onto their jobs and we want the chance to show we can run this pub well, cooperating with the police and licensing.”
And despite the police’s concerns, Mr Crawford-Emery backed the current team in charge of The White Horse.
He said: “In the time I have been the owner there have been a number of other premises within Ferryhill that have also suffered from difficulties and have been closed down. The White Horse has weathered those storms and has come through as one of the better-run pubs within the town. That is a pattern that we wish to continue.”
Durham County Council’s licensing committee upheld the decision to suspend the pub’s licence pending a full review hearing, due to be held before April 15.
Ferryhill & Chilton's local community newspaper.
