Bramley pub The Barley Mow keeps licence despite police concerns after two serious attacks

A representative from West Yorkshire Police had warned public safety was “at risk” and recommended “that an immediate suspension of the premises licence is necessary to protect public safety” at The Barley Mow in Bramley.

But, following a meeting of Leeds City Council’s licensing sub-committee this week, members agreed to instead allow the pub to keep its licence, but with added conditions to help combat crime.

Police had said a “heavily intoxicated” man had attended the pub on June 4, had drunk “approximately 14 alcoholic drinks”, and was continued to be served drinks until a fight broke out and he was knocked to the ground.

The attack continued on the man outside the pub, and police claimed he sustained a fractured jaw and was fitted with a metal plate.

Police say they were called to another incident at the pub later that month, in which several people were fighting in the smoking area, which led to serious injuries and hospitalisation.

A statement from West Yorkshire Police concluded: “These incidents lead me to believe that public safety is at risk and that an immediate suspension of the premises licence is necessary to protect public safety. A standard review process cannot achieve this.”

The licence was then suspended at an emergency “interim steps” meeting on August 2, in preparation for the review which took place this week.

Speaking against the suspension, licensing lawyer Paddy Whur had said the owner had owned some “30 licenced premises over the years”, and that this was the first time any of them had been the subject of a review.

Mr Whur told the committee that Barley Mow had been closed for five years and was derelict when licence-holder Kelly Shaw had taken it over. She had invested a large sum of money to repair and refurbish the premises.

He said that Ms Shaw had accepted his advice to work with West Yorkshire Police, and was now offering a number of additional

measures.

Following this week’s hearing, a Leeds City Council statement read: “The licensing sub-committee decided not to revoke the Barley Mow’s premises licence but placed a number of additional conditions on the licence in order to address the concerns raised by the police and other authorities.”

The council did not reveal what the conditions were, however, and instead said they would be outlined publicly towards the end of the month. The licence-holder’s lawyers have been contacted for the details.

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