A NEW 2 am drinks licence has been granted by councillors for a Minehead sports bar despite concerns by police who served its owner with a ‘cease and desist’ letter and arrested him.

Banckers Draught owner Robert Hamblin was ordered in February to no longer contact a member of the police licensing team.

Sgt Lauren Whitby said police were not opposed to ‘reasonable extensions’ of the bar’s opening hours, but said Mr Hamblin had not ‘engaged’ with her licensing team before his application and ‘failed to provide sufficient evidence’ the changes would not put the public at risk.

She said: “In effect, the application proposes substantially later hours without proposing any meaningful increase in control measures.

“The premises is located immediately adjacent to residential properties and concerns have been raised regarding customer behaviour and nuisance relating to the premises.

“We have received video footage supporting these concerns.”

Sgt Whitby said Mr Hamblin ‘repeatedly frustrated’ efforts by police licensing officers to access the property, culminating in the designated licensing officer being refused entry.

Banckers Draught, Minehead, owner Robbie Hamblin attended a Somerset Council licensing meeting by video link.
Banckers Draught, Minehead, owner Robert Hamblin attended a Somerset Council licensing meeting by video link. (Contributed)

She said: “As a consequence, it became necessary to issue a cease and desist letter to Mr Hamblin.

“Despite a warning, Mr Hamblin’s conduct persisted and ultimately resulted in him being arrested.

“This significantly undermines our ability to effectively monitor and address issues, should the extended hours be granted.”

Somerset Council’s licensing sub-committee was told of numerous complaints made against the venue since January, with the police recording more than 20 separate reports.

They included several reports of patrons shouting in the street, three of men urinating in public, including on a neighbour’s motorcycle, music being played excessively loud and sometimes with the doors open, and one incident of a staff member trespassing and taking pictures of a neighbours’ belongings.

But, sub-committee chairman Cllr Simon Carswell said a revised licence would be approved.

Cllr Carswell said: “We expect the operation of these premises to be closely monitored by the licence holder and responsible bodies.

“We would encourage all parties to work more collaboratively in the future.”

The bar can now sell alcohol until 2 am on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, with a midnight cut-off for all other days.

Mr Hamblin and co-licensee Amy Hobbs originally wanted a 3 am licence on Fridays and Saturdays and 2 am on the other days.

He said: “We are actually more focused on trying to get it open earlier rather than later, so then it matches the local ‘adult weekender’ at Butlin’s, that is more important to us than having a later licence.

“We agree with the police’s suggestion of having a midnight cut-off through the weekend and a 2 am cut-off only on Thursday, Fridays, and Saturdays.”

Mr Hamblin accepted complaints had been made and agreed they should not be ignored simply because he disagreed with them.

However, he said the complaints came from people living immediately next door who had since moved away, with many of the incidents happening while the bar was closed, and such incidents were no longer happening.