Pub ordered to close for five months after Covid breaches

A Falkirk pub has been forced to close for five months after its licence was suspended following reports of crime and disorder and breaches of Covid-19 rules.

In addition to the suspension, The Ellwyn Bar, on Newlands Road in Grangemouth, will also have 17 conditions attached to its licence.

The council’s licensing board had heard at a previous meeting on December 3 that the management of the pub was “chaotic” and agreed to Police Scotland’s request for a review.

They also saw CCTV footage from September of customers crowded round a pool table, a man dropping his trousers and a fight breaking out.

On Wednesday they gave their final decision to owner Amran Ali, who leases the pub to tenants but is ultimately responsible as the premises’ licence holder.

Convener Niall Coleman said: “The suspension of the licence for five months reflects the seriousness of what has happened.

“We have breaches of crime and disorder, and equally seriously in this time we have breaches of Covid regulations which have not only had an impact on patrons at the Ellwyn but on wider society and in fact every single person in Falkirk district as it can input into the tier level we are in.”

The conditions attempt to address some of the problems raised by Police Scotland and the licensing standards officers.

They include all staff being trained to personal licence holder standard; ensuring that trained first aiders are on hand; and making sure that door stewards are on duty at specified times.

The premises will also have to close if the designated premises manager leaves their position, and will remain shut until a new manager is nominated.

Councillor Coleman added that at the previous hearing several assurances had been given by Mr Ali’s lawyer, although he noted that this was the pub’s third licence review and similar undertakings had been given before.

However, they did take on board the undertaking from Mr Ali that the premises would only operate within a management framework which will be agreed by Mr Ali, his tenant, police and licensing officers.

By local democracy reporter Kirsty Paterson