Pub caught in trade sting selling alcohol to children faces closure

The “sting” test purchase operations were carried out at the Old Market Hall pub in Mexborough in February, March and October last year.

The first two operations, in which Doncaster Council’s trading standards officers sent children into the pub to attempt to buy alcohol, resulted in the pub being ordered to surrender its licence for three days in April 2010.

But The Old Market Hall, owned by the JD Wetherspoon pub chain, is now set to have its licence reconsidered by councillors at a committee meeting today after failing a third test purchase operation in October.

A spokesman for Doncaster Council said: “Doncaster trading standards seeks a review of the premises licence of The Old Market Hall, on the grounds of protection of children from harm.

“On February 19, 2010, and March 6, 2010, Doncaster trading standards officers in conjunction with South Yorkshire Police carried out test purchasing operations in the Mexborough area.

“On each of these occasions, The Old Market Hall was tested and sales were made by staff to persons under 18 years.

“The premises were subject of a 48-hour closure notice and forfeited sale of alcohol from April 24 to 26, 2010.

“On October 29, 2010, a further test purchase was carried out at the premises by Doncaster trading standards and again a member of staff sold alcohol to a person under 18.

“On each occasion a fixed penalty notice was issued to the person making the sale and the designated premises supervisor and the premises licence holder were informed.”

The Old Market Hall opened in January 2009, following a £1.6m redevelopment project at the building, which was originally opened in July 1880. It is managed by Nick Patching, who has worked for the pub giant for a decade.

Nobody from JD Wetherspoon was available for comment yesterday.

Meanwhile, the Fontana nightclub in Attercliffe, Sheffield, has been ordered to close by licensing officers in Sheffield, after a string of violent attacks took place there.

The most serious incidents at the club, which is a known hangout for gang members, involved one man having his ear sliced off and being stabbed in the neck, and another man being attacked by a 15-strong gang armed with a knife and a knuckleduster.

A report prepared by South Yorkshire Police’s Chief Inspector Iain Chorlton also details a catalogue of incidents that officers were called out to deal with, including a report of up to 60 people brawling on the car park outside in an attack which left a man with a broken jaw.

He said in his report to the licensing board: “There is evidence of a gang culture and concerns are that if firm action is not taken against the premises then it is only a matter of time before someone suffers life-changing injuries or worse.”

Following the decision earlier this week to close down Fontana, Coun Clive Skelton, the chairman of Sheffield Council’s licensing board, said: “We revoked the club’s licence because the evidence presented by the police was so compelling – it was the only option available to us based on what we heard if we are to keep the people of Sheffield safe.

“The evidence was frightening – even the police said they had never had a case where they were so concerned that a murder could be committed on a premises.

“One of the problems is that the premises are pitch black inside so nothing gets picked up on CCTV.

“Door procedures also do not appear to have been followed correctly because, even though there is a knife arch, there is evidence of knives and knuckle dusters, for example, getting through.”

The owner of Fontana, Bernard Sona, has the right to appeal the licensing board’s decision.