Licence review for Bangor pub as police say it is “focal point of unacceptable behaviour and disorder”

A Bangor pub said to have become a “focal point of unacceptable behaviour and disorder” will have its licence reviewed following a request from North Wales Police.

The hearing, which will take place on February 23, follows concerns about the Waverley Hotel’s alleged failure to comply with current conditions including use of CCTV, a failure to request proof of age and the maintenance of Covid-19 controls.

The Gwynedd council report states that the pub, which stands opposite Bangor railway station, has already been subject to an online petition calling for the premises to be closed down over concerns about the “lack of control”.

Police having highlighted a number of issues with the licence holder, and it was noted that a recommendation to have door supervisors on the premises every Friday and Saturday night was “generally ignored”, with officers requesting that their

presence be a condition of the licence going forward.

Among the issues highlighted in the report are:

• Existing CCTV not covering every licenced area, with the car park not being covered at all.
• North Wales Police investigation in September 2020 finding that at least two underaged individuals were identified and spirits served to them without any challenge about their age.
• Police identifying individuals who had been barred under the Pubwatch scheme drinking on the premises on September 19.
• A CCTV recording from September showing “many serious offences” in relation to social distancing and Covid-19 regulations, said to “expose staff and customers to the potential of significant risks viral transmission”.

Police describing the pub as “the focal point of unacceptable behaviour and disorder”, with reports of over 20 people fighting on the premises in August with incidents also noted both inside and outside the pub during September.

Gwynedd Council has already issued a Premises Improvement Notice to the Waverley after a video showing a lack of social distancing was circulated on social media, with the September 25 visit also finding that the Covid Risk Assessment was incomplete.

The report noted: “The visit had been undertaken following many complaints from the public, along with video evidence from social media showing people dancing and singing, with the licence holder obviously participating in the celebrations; while everyone in the video seemed to be ignoring social distancing rules.”

During an earlier visit by officers on September 16, licence holder Hayley Meek was said to have expressed “frustration” that pubs in Upper Bangor were “sending individuals who had been barred via Pubwatch down to the Waverley  as they alleged they would be welcomed there”.

The report added that Ms Meek found it “very difficult to operate and get those individuals to leave the premises”.

Among the recommendations proposed by North Wales Police are for at least two door supervisors to be on site every Friday and Saturday night, significant improvements to the CCTV system and the release of any footage captured, and training for staff to ensure a full understanding of the law in terms of underage drinking and implementation of a “Challenge 25” policy.

Efforts have been made to contact The Waverley for comment.

The hearing will take place during Gwynedd Council’s Central Licensing Sub-Committee meeting on Tuesday, February 23.

By Gareth Williams – Local Democracy Reporter