Popley pub could be forced to close for three months

The borough council’s licensing sub-committee will consider an application from Hampshire Constabulary to close down the Popinjay Pub, in Abbey Road, Popley, at a meeting on Monday.

The pub has been shut since October 24 after the designated premises supervisor left.

In a report to the committee, Claire Wanless, police licensing officer at Basingstoke police station, has detailed a number of incidents where the police have been called to the pub over the last seven months.

The council’s licensing officer, along with Claire Wanless, visited the premises on June 11 following a drug-related incident in which three people were injured on June 7.

During the visit, routine drug swabs were taken on various surfaces around the pub. The results showed high levels of cocaine were present.

In addition, several noise complaints were received by the police and the borough council.

On September 4, a member of staff from the Popinjay was given a £90 fixed penalty ticket after selling alchohol to an intoxicated customer, who used abusive abusive behaviour towards police officers.

Claire Wanless wrote to the borough council on October 20 calling for them to review the pub’s licence and to close it for three months.

In the report, she said: “The necessity for the closure period is to enable Enterprise Inns to address the conditions requested. A strong designated premises supervisor with suitable experience in the licensing trade is required to manage these premises.

“The community clearly aren’t happy with the way the premise is being run and this is evident with the complaints that we have discussed here”.

Councillor Paul Frankum, ward member for Popley West, added: “On reading the review papers, even with the many contacts from residents, I was very alarmed and shocked at the level of the problems reported in the papers caused by The Popinjay and the high level of police involvement.”

A spokesman for Enterprise Inns said: “Following a complaint received from the local licensing team regarding our venue the Popinjay we chose to close the premises until the licencing review meeting with the borough council next week.

“We will make a decision on how to move forward with the pub based on the outcome.”

The committee will decide whether to modify the conditions of the licence, exclude a licensable activity from the scope of the licence, suspend the licence for three months or to revoke the licence, at the meeting on Monday evening.