Pub told to ban glasses (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Pub told to ban glasses

2:00pm Tuesday 24th April 2012 in News By Simon Moss

A CONTROVERSIAL pub has been banned from selling alcohol in standard glasses after an appeal by Basingstoke police.

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council has agreed to impose the get-tough measures on The Buckskin pub, in Blackdown Close, after a pint glass was smashed into the face of Semina Ali by drunken Toni Smith in November last year. The horrific attack left the 22-year-old with scars on her neck and cheek.

Landlord Krishan Tyagi had sought Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s permission to remove a condition on his licence that insisted on compulsory door staff at the premises. He also wanted to extend his opening hours to allow the pub to host community events, indoor sports and live music at weekends.

But in a damning response, Basingstoke police said they had “no faith” in Mr Tyagi’s ability to run the pub safely.

In a written objection, PC Alan Read said door staff were essential to promote safety at the premises, which he said had a “chequered” history of drugs and alcohol.

And as an extra measure, PC Read asked that staff only be allowed to serve alcohol in polycarbonate plastic glasses and safety glasses, which are made of reinforced glass that is considered shatterproof.

At a licensing sub-committee hearing, Mr Tyagi said having door staff should not be compulsory for all events. He told the panel: “If families want to celebrate their children’s seventh birthday, we have to have two door staff, which makes it uneconomical for the pub.”

He also added that if he was forced to use plastic or safety glasses, they should be imposed on all pubs in the area.

PC Read said meetings between the council, police and Mr Tyagi to overcome problems at the premises had been a “war of attrition”. He added: “It has been very difficult to get Mr Tyagi to implement best practice.”

The hearing also heard from Christine Bailey, who lives less than 20 yards from the pub. She said: “I have lived opposite this public house for seven years, and in the time it’s been open, there have been problems.”

She cited incidents of violence, noise disturbance and anti-social behaviour spilling out from the pub.

The licensing sub-committee, made up of councillors Rita Burgess, Sven Godesen and Paul Frankum, took just over an hour to refuse Mr Tyagi’s request to alter his licence, and they stipulated that polycarbonate or safety glasses should be used at all times.

Chairman Cllr Burgess said: “The committee considered this decision is appropriate in pursuing the licensing objectives.”