Councillors change Killingworth pub licence after alleged brawls

The Plough pub in Killingworth village
-Credit: (Image: ChronicleLive/Simon Greener)


Councillors have changed the licence of a Killingworth pub following complaints over some patrons' behaviour, including alleged fights.

North Tyneside Council’s licensing sub-committee has said that drinks cannot be taken outside The Plough Inn, located on West Farm Cottages in Killingworth, in a newly modified licence following a licensing review. The review was brought forward by the Residents First Group, following several incidents related to the pub.

Councillors were shown video footage of alleged brawls that took place late on Christmas last year as well as an alleged confrontation recorded on June 1, which resulted in the assault of a Killingworth villager. In addition, councillors were also shown a photograph of a Plough patron urinating on a resident's garden wall.

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In addition, speakers also referred to incidents of people leaving the pub with drinks and smashed glasses or bottles in the street.

Member of the group, Alban Smith, said: “As stated before, our group is not seeking to have the licence of the Plough revoked or closed. Instead, we are seeking what we believe are balanced and considered changes to its licensing conditions, and a review of some hours of operation to make Mitchells and Butlers [the operators] more accountable to the running of the pub and ensure that all the legal requirements of the Licensing Act 2003 are met and maintained from now into the future resulting these types of hearings becoming unnecessary.

“In short, a harmonious future for the pub.”

Mr Smith also stated that the claimed disruption witnessed and experienced by some Killingworth locals was the fault of only a minority.

Jonathan Smith, the legal representative of Mitchells and Butlers, highlighted to councillors that neither the council’s environmental health team nor Northumbria Police had suggested interventions for the pub. In addition, Mr Jonathan Smith reminded the committee that the Police and Environmental Health were the primary sources of information for the council around crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour.

Mitchells and Butlers' legal representative also described the alleged incidents as “very much one-offs” and “individual incidents”.

In addition, Mitchells and Butlers' legal representative went on to clarify that one of the incidents that resulted in the alleged assault of a Killingworth villager had occurred almost an hour after he had been told to leave the premises on account of his intoxication. He also told councillors that the police authority licensing coordinator, Neil Kirkpatrick, had said the pub had acted correctly.

Four residents also spoke to support the pub describing it as a well-run, family-friendly establishment. The council had also received 38 letters of support from Killingworth locals.

The licensing sub-committee also agreed to the following opening hour conditions:

Supply of alcohol on the premises only:

  • Sunday to Thursday 10am to 11pm

  • Friday to Saturday 10am to 11.30pm

  • Christmas Day 12pm to 6pm

  • New Year's Eve 10am to 1230am on New Year's Day

  • Sunday before bank holiday Monday 10am to 11.30pm

  • Bank holiday not falling on a Monday 10am to 11.30pm