Birmingham pub closed after machete attack to reopen with strict new conditions

A pub in Birmingham which had its licence suspended after an attack on a man by a gang carrying machetes has been allowed to reopen but with strict conditions. The Belle Vue pub in Icknield Port Road in Edgbaston saw its premises licence suspended last month following an incident at the venue on Friday, March 22.

A man in his 30s was said to have been attacked in the smoking area of the venue at around 11.45pm by a group of eight men ‘three armed with machetes’. The victim was said to have been ‘lunged at, kicked and punched’ and suffered a cut to his left hand and bruising under his right eye during the attack.

And the pub was criticised for operating beyond its licence conditions, in particular by selling alcohol after 11pm, not closing off the smoking area, selling alcohol without it being serviced alongside food and having loud rather than background music playing.

Read more: Pub has licence suspended after man attacked by gang with machetes

Councillors found there had been a ‘serious incident of crime and disorder’ and suspended the pub’s licence forcing it to remain closed at a meeting of Birmingham City Council ’s licensing sub-committee C on Wednesday, March 27. It also removed Andrea Murray as the designated premises supervisor (DPS).

She appealed the decision but at a hearing on Friday, April 19, the councillors at licensing sub-committee A said the licence would remain suspended until the full hearing on Tuesday (April 23) this week. But now the licence suspension has been lifted subject to the premises fulfilling a list of strict conditions stated at the licencing hearing on Tuesday, which were pre-agreed with the premises licence holder – also Andrea Murray.

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Committee chair, Cllr Diane Donaldson (Bromforrd and Hodge Hill, Lab.), said: “Having reviewed the premises licence held under the Licensing Act 2003 in respect of Belle Vue, Icknield Port Road and following an application for an expedited review made on behalf of the chief officer of West Midlands Police, this committee herby determines that the conditions of the licence should be modified [as below].”

The conditions were as follows:

• Installing CCTV approved, by the police, to capture images, particularly outside in low-light conditions,. Retaining footage for at least 31 days to be made available to ‘responsible authorities’ on request. And the CCTV equipment to be checked once a week to ensuring it was working with the checker and time of check to be recorded and sign off by the DPS;

• No regulated entertainment in the beer garden or smoking area after 10pm;

• Access to the garden can only be made via the premises;

• A new designated premises supervisor to be appointed due to Andrea Murray’s ‘lax management style and failure to adhere to the conditions of the licence existing at the time’;

• Licensable activity to end at 11pm and everyone to leave the premises by 11.30pm;

• All staff to receive training on the Licensing Act and licensing objectives – with staff not allowed to work there until the training is carried out. With training records to be signed by the trainer and trainee and refresher training to take place once a year;

• The premises cannot reopen until all the agreed conditions are in place.

Cllr Donaldson added: “The sub-committee also considers the conditions imposed to be appropriate, reasonable and proportionate to address concerns raised in particular the likelihood of serious crime and or serious disorder.”

Read more: Restaurant caught selling booze at ‘wedding’ in early hours faces licence review

Earlier, a spokesman for West Midlands Police said: “We’re investigating after a man was assaulted at a bar on Icknield Port Road in Birmingham last month. Shortly before midnight on Friday 22 March, a man was attacked by three people armed with machetes.

“The man, who is in his 30s, fell to the ground after being lunged at by one of the group. He was then kicked and punched, sustaining injuries, which are not life-changing.

“Our enquiries are continuing and we’re appealing for anyone with information to contact us on 101 or via Live Chat on our website and quote crime number 20/60231/24. Alternatively, information can be given anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”