Pub Denied Alcohol License Again Following Shooting Incident: Greater Manchester Police Cite ‘Danger to Public’
The Queens Hotel in Greater Manchester has been denied a temporary license to sell alcohol over the bank holiday weekend after concerns were raised by Greater Manchester Police about the safety of the public. The decision comes following a shooting incident in April, which resulted in the pub being initially banned from selling alcohol.
During a recent hearing, PC Alan Isherwood identified the owner of the pub, Stephen Dale, as an active suspect in the ongoing investigation into the incident. Dale had been arrested and subsequently released under investigation, although the specific charges were not disclosed during the hearing. Both Dale and his partner Janice Flint have also reportedly received threats to their lives.
PC Isherwood informed the Manchester Council’s licensing sub-committee that due to the threat to life and the potential danger posed to the community, he did not believe Dale was fit to hold a license. This concern for public safety was the reason behind the initial revocation of the license and the subsequent denial of the temporary license.
The owners of the pub are currently awaiting a court date for their appeal against the council’s decision to revoke their license earlier this year. In June, their attempt to change the license holder to Floyd Dodoo was also rejected. Dodoo operates other pubs in the area.
Following the incident in March, The Vine pub on Glendower Drive had its license temporarily suspended. However, the suspension has since been lifted, and the pub has reopened. The incident is believed to have been linked to organized crime groups, according to Greater Manchester Police.
Stephen Dale defended his pub during the hearing, stating that he and Janice Flint have run the establishment for 41 years without any prior incidents. Dale disputed the claim made by GMP that the intelligence gathered indicated a danger to the public, emphasizing that they have hosted 11 incident-free charity events in the past three months.
Although alcohol was not sold during these events, Dale suggested that a temporary event notice (TEN) would allow them to generate more funds for local causes by selling alcohol.
The license revocation from April remains in force until the court appeal is concluded. The sub-committee expressed its intention not to interfere with the appeal process by granting a temporary event notice.
It is crucial for the safety of the community that all stakeholders involved work towards resolving the issues arising from the incident in a fair and transparent manner. The ongoing investigation should bring clarity to the situation, enabling a just resolution that prioritizes public safety.
