Problem pub in Uxbridge has licence revoked
Friday 3 March 2022: The landlords of a nuisance pub in Uxbridge known for under-age drinking and violence have lost their appeal against the suspension of its licence.
The pub's licence first came under scrutiny in 2019 following a fight. Since then, reports of a string of worrying incidents, including under-age drinking, fighting and persistent noise nuisance led the council to take the decision to revoke the licence.
As an interim safety measure, the council took the step of suspending the licence until the licence hearing could take place. The licence was then revoked by the council's Licensing Sub-Committee in December.
The Committee further agreed to retain the suspension during the timeframe allowed for an appeal from the landlords, A M Property and Development Ltd (trading as 'The Prince of Wales').
A M Property and Development Ltd subsequently appealed against both the temporary suspension and revocation of the licence.
The appeal against the interim suspension went to Uxbridge Magistrates' Court for review in January, where the District Judge upheld the council's decision. The landlords subsequently withdrew their further appeal, and the licence is now considered fully revoked.
The pub, on the corner of Harlington Road and Uxbridge Road, is used as a restaurant and bar, with a shisha lounge at the rear of the premises.
The licence has now been revoked and so the pub cannot sell alcohol and after 11pm it can't serve food, or have music. If in the future the pub is put up for sale, any new owners would have to apply for a new licence.
During the appeal hearing, the court was told of a succession of issues from the pub. These ranged from persistent noise nuisance for residents, with loud music, noise and glasses being smashed in the early hours of the morning, to school-aged children being served alcohol and regular incidents of violence - some of them very serious.
Those have included a report of a 30-person brawl, men fighting with knives, a man wielding a metal pole outside the pub following an argument, and one horrific incident where four people suffered knife injuries - one of them a 16-year-old girl.
Cllr John Riley, Hillingdon Council's Cabinet Member for Public Safety and Transport, said: "Our pubs play an important role as hubs for local communities that should exist happily alongside their neighbours and provide somewhere residents can socialise with an expectation of doing so in safety. The Prince of Wales failed on both these basic functions and veered dangerously into notoriety.
"As such, this is a great result not only for residents living near the Prince of Wales who have suffered from nuisance, but also as a reassurance to residents that we will always take action to ensure the safety of pub-goers and the public.
"We're grateful to the police for their key role in helping us achieve this result which reinforces that our decision to suspend the licence was sound and appropriate.
The premises licence was transferred to A M Property and Development Ltd in 2016.
The Licensing Act 2003 permits a senior police officer to tell the licensing authority that it is their opinion that a premises is associated with serious crime, serious disorder, or both.