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Popular pub has licence suspended
A BLACKPOOL pub has had its licence suspended for a week after allowing under-age drinking.
A town hall hearing was told that girls, aged 15 and 16, were served alcohol on two occasions at the Burlington on Lytham Road in South Shore.
Further evidence claimed a group of under-18 girls had been seen drinking at the premises during a family fun day last August. One was described as being "paralytic".
The licence was suspended for seven days but the pub has 21 days in which to appeal.
Licensing enforcement officer Mark Marshall said volunteers were sent on a test purchase operation on June 27 and September 12 last year, and on both occasions were served alcohol unchallenged.
Sgt Sarah Salisbury, of Blackpool Police licensing department, said concerns were also raised by an off-duty nurse, who recognised under-age girls drinking during a family fun day on August 30.
Sgt Salisbury added the nurse described one of the girls "as being paralytic and she had to help her stand up."
The police said the pub did not have a record of violence generally but in recent weeks there had been two alleged serious assaults, including an alleged glassing and an alleged attack by a customer on the pub manager.
John Cohen, representing Punch Taverns, which owns the pub, said: "The premises has learned its lesson. It has gone from Challenge 21 to Challenge 25 and additional training has been given.
"There were five test purchases and two failures, which I think demonstrates the premises does more often than not get it right."
Pub regulars also spoke in support of the venue.
Sarah Rossall said: "It's a great community pub. I can go in with my girlfriends and feel safe."
Matthew Hindle, who runs the pool team, said; "I have very rarely, if at all, seen any trouble there and it has been my local for over 10 years."
Coun Julian Mineur, who chaired the review panel, said they were "concerned that known school children were reported to be drinking in the premises" but commended introduction of staff training.
He added: "The seriousness of failed test purchases in so short a time brings us to the decision to suspend the licence."
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Weather for Blackpool
Sunday 27 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 14 C to 27 C
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Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 22 C
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