A FAMILY fallout has brought about a change of management at a familiar Ashton-under-Lyne pub.
And two of those responsible at The Feathers have backed Tameside Council’s decision.
Designated premises supervisor at the Stamford Street venue Natalie Horrocks was brought before the authority’s Speaker’s Panel (Liquor Licensing) panel on Monday, December 15.
Incidents which saw terms of a pavement licence violated, an inaccessible CCTV system and not engaging with officers resulted in the hearing.
And a tale of dispute resulted in her being removed from the licence, which she suggested, as mother and part-owner Bernadine looks to be added to it.
She told the hearing: “I know I’m at fault here. I’ve got to sit here, take it and learn from it.
“I’ve not been in a very good place and my way of dealing with things is to shut it out – that’s my way of coping.
“I accept that it can come across as dismissive and I apologise for that.
“I backed away from the pub for family reasons and I put someone who’s with my brother, as I thought she could do the job.
“They’ve been working together as they don’t want me at the pub, that’s why I’ve stepped away.
“I shouldn’t have as that may jeopardise my licence. I thought someone who was part of the family, I could trust. So I’m sorry for that.”
The Feathers’ licence was placed under review after terms of a pavement licence, which applies until 8pm, were repeatedly breached.
On July 27, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) received a complaint from a member of the public that customers had been sat outside the premises on tables and chairs, drinking alcohol and acting in an anti-social manner until about midnight.
An employee of the premises who resides above the Feathers told licensing officer PC Craig Foley it was a one-off incident and a special celebration and this would not happen again.
But similar complaints were made on August 26 and an examination of CCTV found breaches occurred on August 22, 23 and 24.
Natalie explained at the hearing the ‘special celebration’ was a memorial for her late father Stephen but offered no excuse for not engaging with either licensing authorities or the police subsequently.
Tameside Council’s head of licensing Michael Robinson told how his department had ‘exhausted all options to resolve the matter in formally. It therefore applied to review the premises’ licence.’
And GMP’s concerns were outlined when licensing officer PC Foley told the panel: “My fear is that someone could be seriously harmed without an active DPS in place.”
After hearing the circumstances behind the issues, panel chair Cllr Helen Bowden announced Natalie Horrocks was being removed as DPS.
And a new condition making sure the CCTV hard drive – currently stored in the flat, which is inaccessible to either Natalie or Bernadine – must be moved to a place that I accessible to all.
Bernadine indicated she will now look to be added as the DPS and premises licence holder as soon as possible.