It has been a while since I have ventured into Broadstairs, primarily the thought of a town where it's necessary to bring in special powers of arrest, have heightened my fear Broadstairs.More recently news that, the licensing authorities have felt it necessary to revoke the licence for Harpers Wine Bar, which whenever I have passed by seems to be a fairly friendly hostelry, just add to my suspicion of just what goes on in Broadstairs.
Having read the reports about this on the Thanet
Life website, it seems that many of the complaints made about this establishment, may actually have little to do with the bar in question. In fact this reminds me of the a similar case involving bar 26 in Margate. Town centres will always have noise and nuisance if a town has any life in it at all, walking around the Harbour street, and the joining area there are numerous bars and pubs, it seems remarkable that this rather small
establishment, could be responsible for the nuisance claimed.I'm middle aged, so don't get out often, but from my distant memory, it's generally the larger pubs which create most anti social behaviour. How the licensing authorities have managed to zero in on this bar, is a mystery to me, but as is much in life, it is generally the small business and individuals that get clobbered with overzealous regulation.
Anyway good luck to Harper's wine bar, they certainly need it, I hope it's still there next time I'm in Broadstairs. I doubt any establishment in Broadstairs deserves this heavy handed treatment.
Can I suggest you re read the comments Tony, in particular those that list the disturbing effects on life for those who live in or near town centres since the Licensing laws were liberalised and 24 hour drunken chaos became a reality?
ReplyDeleteMr Scicluna and Ms Pell had plenty of opportunity to weigh complaints made against them by local residents. They chose to not react. They had an opprtunity to demonstrate when the case was due to come before committee they could run on shorter hours. They chose not to demonstrate they could do so They had an opportunity to defend their case in the committee hearing. They chose to make attacks on process, residents, and other establishments, would not (could not?) deny the evidence against them.
Their campaign now has the same flavour - lots of generally supportive comment from customers, but no denial of the real evidence, perhaps because it is undeniable?
Tony, to get a licence revoked is neither easy nor a decision taken lightly. There is an appeal process, which has been started, to the magistrates court, and it would be wrong of me to comment on chances of success.
The tone of much of your comment is rather cynical humour that Broadstairs is a hazardous place to be, and then link this gentle mickey taking to decide it cant be the fault of one establishment.
On Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights particularly Broadstairs can be a difficult place to be. And it cannot be the fault of one establishment alone, but this labour law only permits action against individual establishments, and where there is clear evidence it is our duty to take action against such establishments. Having a licence carries with it responsibilities, and where they are not carried out we must act.
Just sometimes you need to trust that we act in the public interest. Mr Scicluna and Ms Pells may cast themselves as heroes and martyrs - the evidence in full might just suggest a different picture.
A look in yesterdays IOTG might also suggest they are not alone.
Tony, you probably haven't been out quaffing recently in Boredstares late on a Friday or Saturday night. I have, and it ain't pretty.
ReplyDeleteDon't be fooled by its smug, butter-wouldn't-melt quaintness during the hours of daylight. On a weekend night it turns into an alcohol and drug fuelled monster!
Well I take on board some what you say chris but if I go back to a time when I was a little more familiar with late night drinking, the crimes quoted aren't that bad I can think of some business which despite a veneer of respectability are probably no better but have a more savvy management.
ReplyDeleteGood luck to anyone who attacks the "process" as one who beleives much of our life to be run by a small number of pompous self serveing opinionated idiots.(this does not discribe any of my readers or contributors) I have much sympathy.
Drug & alcohol fuelled monster, bored stares, I didn't know you were in the resort promo bizz Mr eastcliff.
Much of what I comment on is an excuse to have fun and really. I make no apology.
Some times I may go to far but then so do the residents of Ramsgate who think they have a right to whinge about manston or those who chose to live in downtown Broadstairs expecting everyone young and old to be tucked up in bed with mug of horlicks by 10pm.
GOODLUCK TO HARPERS AND ALL WHO SUPPORT THEM
Well said Tony! there are many who feel that Harpers has been made a scape-goat because of their resentful attitude to being 'targeted'. The sad fact is that those taking the decision to revoke a licence have not been on the street just 50 m N of Harpers when a popular pub disgorges its drunken 'youngsters' onto the street. Cllr Wells you might like to go and do some practical research and visit this particular corner of Broadstairs on Fri and Sats from 1030- 0200; you might then discover which establishment is the source of the problems you quite rightly are trying to deal with. TDC is literally kicking the cat because the dog has crapped on the mat; glaringly unfair and disproportionate and I hope Harper's wins its appeal.
ReplyDeleteI am often seen around those street corners on the nights in question, and observe rather more than I comment on publicly. Harpers is not alone - but neither is it innocent.
ReplyDeleteLast time I went to Harpies I had to widdle in the smokers' courtyard, along with most of the other chaps there, due to their woefully inadequate toileting facilities. The poor ladies were backed up almost into the street, being too shy to squat in the courtyard.
ReplyDeleteIt seemed to me that the owners cared less about providing adequate arrangements for their customers than maximising the amount of space they could cram all those profitable drinkers into. The bar's tiny, you have to push and shove your way through for the pleasure of being served by one of their surly bar staff, who might notice you after half an hour chatting to their mates. Good riddance to the place.
Has there been a diminution of the public disorder problems ?
ReplyDeleteIf not then it appears that Harpers was not responsible.
It is now some years since I asked TDC if the criminal Kenneth Noye had any financial interest in Thanet pub(s).
I asked Kent Police to confirm or deny the information from an armed support officer that Mr Noye had guest shot with the Kent Police firearms team.
I asked TDC if Thanet Police had ever opposed an application for a licence by Thorley Taverns .. given that another operator seems to have been opposed on the basis there are too few police in Thanet to deal with late night disorder.
Broadstairs problems may have more to do with a lack of police to move on ejectees and rejectees, from licensed premises, than with allegedly irresponsible licensees.
Not so long ago we had a Thanet Police Chief boasting that Thanet had proportionately fewer Police than other areas of Kent.
Oh wonderful Intelligence targetting Zero tolerating Thanet Police Chief how do you cope ?
Close the licensed premises and get visiting coaches out of the resorts by 6PM.
Where there's no fun there are no funsters.
Where there are no funsters there is no seaside economy.
Police mission, to make Thanet a safe place to work, live and visit (strike out visit, live and work)
Its good to see that someones actually watching out. I was getting the impression that the authorities were being a little slack on it. Good to see the Liquor Locker being caught for under-age sale of alcohol. I understand theres history with that shop in that regard.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know why the Broadstairs Police "Shop" isn't open when it is most needed
ReplyDelete