I'm writing this with something of a heavy heart. When the Claddagh Ring shut suddenly I was deeply worried for the future of the pub - especially as the owners were Enterprise Inns.
Since then Enterprise have lived up to their local nickname (see above) by their appalling closure of Newtown's Jolly Anglers. (See http://reopenthejollyanglers.co.uk/ for details).
When the Kennet Arms reopened a few months ago under its former name, and with a lick of paint (and more besides), things were looking up for what had always been a community pub.
However, things have not always gone well since then. We have had complaints, and today the news came through that the Council is seeking to review the Kennet Arms' license.
Under the old licensing rules this would have never happened.
When I first heard from residents of problems around the pub, I put it to the licensing authorities that help and training should be offered, especially as the management is new to the pub trade. The answer came back that there is no incentive for the council (or for that matter the police) to do this. Crazy.
"Anyone living within a reasonable distance" i.e. residents living close to the premises (around 100 metres - despite the fact that those affected by the pub for good or bad may live much further away) are the only ones allowed to comment on the license review. The final date for responses is 3 September. If the reports we have heard are confirmed in writing, then there are real issues to be addressed by the current management.
Please contact either of us if you want a hand understanding the finer nonsense of the 2003 Licensing Act. There's a real tension between the need to keep a community facility and the need to deal with a significant number of problems caused by the way the pub has been operating. Either way, what we hope is a temporary problem of management must not be allowed to be Enterprise's excuse to deprive the community of a valued facility.
Comments