Pub that broke lockdown rules applies to reopen

The licence holder of a pub that closed in 2020 after breaching lockdown rules has applied to reopen it.

A new premises licence application for the Queen's Head in Main Street, Kimberley, was submitted to Broxtowe Borough Council by the previous licensee, Juan Hua Chen.

The pub was issued with a temporary banning order in September 2020 after failing to enforce NHS track and trace paperwork and implement social distancing between customers.

But later in November that year, it had its licence completely revoked in an online licensing hearing after Nottinghamshire Police applied to review it.

In an attempt to revive the site, the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) said a premise license application was made by Mr Chen’s partner, Mei Mei Huang, in 2022 but was rejected by the council.

After this rejection, the pub was put up for sale by auction by the owners.

The pub has a history of crime and disorder incidents, with a police report to the council objecting to the 2022 licence application detailing late-night violence, disorder and antisocial behaviour between June 2019 and September 2020.

Now, Juan Hua Chen wants to reinstate the pub he previously had open, offering a bar, restaurant, recorded music and alcohol sales, said LDRS.

Some Kimberley residents and business owners have objected to the application.

Owner of the Juicy by Zeon bar, James Towle, said in his written objection: “I feel opening this premises under the same management to which it lost its licence will become detrimental to the area.

“We do not want to allow a premises to reopen to break all the hard work we have put in and for the wrong crowd to be enticed back into the area. It would be great to see the venue re open but not under the same owners or management and staff.”

Nearby resident Jason Buckley said: “Living on James Street we found ourselves in fear for weeks on Friday and Saturday nights when the pub was last open.

“Customers would leave the pub late at night heavily intoxicated, shouting, fighting, hitting cars and some would urinate in our car port.”

The premise licence application will be discussed and decided in a Broxtowe Borough Council Licensing and Appeals Panel on 20 August.

Follow BBC Nottingham on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected] or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.