Wicks's Bar has licence suspended after woman punched in face

A nightspot had its licence suspended after a woman was "punched in the face".

Essex Police were called to Wicks's Bar, in Dovercourt near Harwich, 21 times since May to reports of fighting, noise and drug use.

Tendring District Council officers investigated the venue after neighbours complained about drinkers "urinating on cars" and "vomiting".

Its licence was revoked for three months.

A meeting of the council's licensing sub-committee was told residents' lives had become a nightmare due to loud noise and anti-social behaviour stemming from the bar.

One said the "booming bass" of music could be heard five streets away, and many were "dreading the weekend coming" and were considering putting their homes up for sale.

They also feared suffering damage to their cars and patrons urinating in their gardens.

Police documents showed that a 71-year-old woman "blacked out" and hit her head on the kerb after leaving the bar.

In October, a customer was "dragged by her hair and punched in the face".

Steve Bennett, of Essex Police, told the meeting officers had been called to fights and spikings at the venue, and had found evidence of cocaine use in the toilets.

He said: "It is the chief officer of the police's view that [Wicks's] has been ill-managed for some time."

Lib Dem councillor Ann Wiggins, who chaired the sub-committee, said the licence suspension, which temporarily bans music being played and the serving of alcohol, was necessary to protect the public.

"We welcome a vibrant night-time economy in Tendring, but venues must not contribute to or cause a public nuisance, crime and disorder or anti-social behaviour," Ms Wiggins said.

"Sadly that was the case here."

The sub-committee also imposed new licence conditions on the bar, including earlier closing times, reduced outside usage and a 30-minute period where no music can be played before closing.

Ray Dowsett, of the Flying Trade Group Ltd which owns the building Wicks's operates from, told the council it has changed the venue's management in a bid to improve the situation.

He said the firm had "no knowledge this was going on".

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