A VIOLENT pub which shut down following allegations of rape, assault on a child and drug-dealing on the premises, is to re-open against the wishes of the police.
The Crown and Sceptre in Staines Road, Feltham shut temporarily in May after the police told owners Punch Taverns they were applying to have their licence revoked, citing a series of violent incidents.
A 25-year-old man lost an eye in a fight at the pub in March in which 20 police officers had to be called in and a child was assaulted. An alleged rape also took place at the venue in June 2008.
The Crown and Sceptre has been boarded up since it closed but this week owners Punch Taverns announced their intention to reopen it under new management 'as soon as possible', despite the police's continuing intention to have the license reviewed.
In a report submitted to Hounslow Council, licensing officer PC Lindsay Cornock said: “Police have records of numerous incidents associated with premises including assaults, glassing incidents, fights, disturbances, disorder, anti-social behaviour, noise nuisance, drunkeness, drug-related incidents, assaults on police officers, sexual related offences, offensive weapons, youths on premises, staff being drunk while working.”
Punch Taverns said the issues were the responsibility of the previous landlords but Hounslow police licensing Inspector Steve Edwards said they would not be dropping their application for a review.
“We have tried to work with Punch Taverns to sort out the problems but the incidents have been going on for a long time,” he added. “If we dropped this review they could open up tomorrow and just carry on as before.”
No date has yet been set for the pub to reopen or the licensing review to be held.
Timeline of trouble - see page 2
January: Allegations of underage drinking.
February 11: Fight between a large group of men.
February 21: Allegations of underage drinking and a fight.
February: Police warned Punch Taverns to improve behaviour at the pub.
March 18: 15 man brawl. Was over by the time police attended.
March 20: Man loses his eye in an assault. 20 police officers attended and one was assaulted. A child was also assaulted. Three men arrested for public order offences, one cautioned for assaulting a police officer.
April: More allegations of underage drinking and allegations of drug dealing.
April 16: Punch Taverns informed police would be seeking a review of its licence.
May 19: Allegations of drug use.
May 20: Pub shut down.
June 12: Police submit application for review of licence.
July 27: Punch Taverns announces its intention to reopen the pub.
