A HANWORTH pub blighted by violence, drugs and noise for years before being taken over by a new landlady has lost its license despite attempts to redeem its reputation.
Tara Dawson, who took over The Swan, Swan Road, in December last year said she is "disappointed" at the decision by the council to revoke the pub's license made on Tuesday evening.
Miss Dawson took control of the pub at a time when police had applied for a license review. The same application was the basis for Tuesday's meeting.
Miss Dawson says she has made considerable changes at the pub, including allowing families in and holding charity events in an eleventh hour bid to save it. She was even planning to hold a charity fund raising party for the Royal wedding.
Speaking to The Chronicle on Wednesday morning, she expressed her reaction to the decision: "I am really disappointed and our customers will be too, some of them have been drinking here for 40 years.
"Since I took over we have raised money for charity, and I have been trying really hard to get the community together. We have no complaints or trouble for the four months or so I have been here. I don't know why it has been closed when it has been so much better recently."
According to Miss Dawson, 500 local residents and customers signed a petition to keep the pub open. It was not presented on Tuesday night because the brewery Admiral Taverns Piccadilly Ltd had not realised "how serious they were about revoking the license" according to Miss Dawson.
It is not confirmed yet as to whether or not the brewery will lodge an appeal. If not, the pub is expected to close its doors for the last time within the next fortnight.
In a report published on-line when the license application was initially submitted on December 20 2010, Hounslow police's licensing officer PC Lindsay Cornock, said: "Incidents linked to the premises include drunkenness, disturbances, disorder, thefts, handling stolen goods, known drug dealers frequenting the premises, youths frequenting the premises, noise, glassings, customers possessing offensive weapons, staff refusing to cooperate when police have attended and burglaries."
Miss Dawson spoke to The Chronicle when she first took over, saying she has a good track record of turning around so called 'problem' pubs in areas including Walthamstow, Wembley and Uxbridge. She said she was determined to 'reclaim' the pub for neighbouring residents.
Speaking this week, Inspector Paul O'Herlihy from the MET Police said: "The management of The Swan have been given ample warnings and opportunities to address the serious concerns raised by the police and licensing authority to no avail. The revoking of this license sends out a clear message that the Metropolitan Police Service and the other responsible agencies will act against those who choose to undermine the licensing objectives."
The council did not comment as The Chronicle went to press.
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