Police fail in bid to have pub licence revoked

Neighbours have complained about noise from the pub in North Street

A pub has kept its licence despite a police bid to have it removed following noise complaints from neighbours.

Bedfordshire Police wanted the licence of the Black Horse, in Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, revoked.

It said “it has no confidence in the licensee that the licensing objectives are being adhered to or taken seriously”.

Central Bedfordshire Council stopped short of removing it but tightened its licence conditions.

The venue's solicitor said the complaints had been sent straight to the council rather than the pub, meaning the management had not been able to act on them.

He added other allegations were "not supported"  by evidence or the pub’s own incident logs, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The licensing sub-committee, which met last week, was told: "Nearby residents from Bossard Court have compiled many videos, pictures and records of noise disturbance since December 2023.

“The area at the back of the Black Horse is often in use throughout the night, although now under cover of a marquee."

'Numerous incidents'

Bedfordshire Police licensing officer Leanne Turner wrote "the premises has undermined the licensing objectives of the prevention of crime and disorder, public nuisance and public safety".

She said there had since been "numerous incidents" since the licence was taken over in December.

"Bedfordshire Police would usually take a stepped approach before any formal action is necessary, but... it’s the police’s opinion that more robust action be taken," she wrote.

Solicitor Luke Elford, for the licensee, said it was "as poorly a thought-through request for revocation as I think I’ve ever seen" with "no evidence to underpin it".

"We say there’s a complete lack of noise evidence in this case. There’s only one reference to decibels from a council officer," he said.

Its new conditions include that live music can only now be played at certain times; the pub's residents can only use the back courtyard late at night, and security staff need to work on Fridays and Saturdays.