Future of Middleton pub to be decided by council chiefs

Leeds city councillors are set to decide the future of The New Middleton pub in Thorpe Lane next week, with the options open to them including altering, suspending or even revoking the licence.

It follows concerns from police officers and council licensing chiefs about numerous incidents that have taken place in and around the pub over the years, as well as concerns around the abilities of those running the pub to deal with any problems.

A letter sent to the council’s licensing department from West Yorkshire Police stated: “There is a history of concern with these premises spanning back a number of years. From records created and retained by the police, a chronology of events has been prepared which highlights incidents that have occurred concerning the venue.

“The premises, over the last few years, has failed to combat the re-occurring problems which include antisocial behaviour, disorder, noise, failure to operate CCTV in accordance with the licence, failure to produce guides to operate the CCTV and failure to install drug safe to name a few. These issues had been brought up in 2017 and had still not been resolved in 2019.”

It went on to list several incidents in 2018 and 2019 in which assaults were said to have taken place in or around the pub.

One incident highlighted was in September 2019, when police and a council licensing officer visited the pub following reports of “antisocial behaviour, noise, unruly children running riot in the street and serving beyond permitted hours again”.

It detailed how the premises holder told officers that the venue had recently reopened and the new management employed had left.

The following month, staff reported to police that a large group of youths were “fighting at the premises with chairs following a boxing match” and “missiles were being thrown upon police arrival”.

Police also claimed that between 11.40pm on November 10 and 3.22am November 11 last year, complaints about “display-level” fireworks, some from as far away as Morley, had been received relating to the the pub.

It added: “(The fireworks) sounded like ‘mortar bombs’ being dropped, frightening local residents, their children and leaving animals traumatised.”

Later that month, the ambulance service was called out after a stabbing outside the pub left a victim needing surgery to their leg.

The letter went on to list other incidents including a “family party” resulting in a fight in January this year.

The letter concludes: “As can be seen from the incidents described, the way this venue is run is plainly unfit for purpose.

“They are not in control and are incapable of running the premises to a satisfactory level, despite all the input, assistance and guidance from the authorities over a number of years.”

A council licensing sub-committee meeting will take place on Monday, August 10.

Councillors on the committee will be asked to make a decision on the future of the licence. Options open to them include modifying the conditions of the licence, suspending the licence for up to three months or revoke the licence completely.