Landlord of Blackpool's Sun Inn pub responds to concerns over police ban from Preston's Tulketh Tap Rooms
“People have a past, people do go bust, it happens, things go wrong in business and you can’t do anything about it.”
The new landlord of Blackpool’s iconic tangerine painted pub has responded after details of his chequered past emerged.
Ray Woods took over the Sun Inn pub in South Shore in June after being closed for six months and is turning its fortunes around.
However in 2024, the Preston publican was banned from Ashton’s former Tulketh Tap Rooms after a licensing review request - the second in two years - from Lancashire Police following an incident in which a man suffered a broken jaw, outside the premises.
Preston City Council’s licensing sub-committee subsequently imposed a three week suspension and imposed new rules for when it reopened which included banning Ray Woods, who was by then the former manager, from entering the bar. He was only allowed on the premises to access the flat he lived in above the pub.
And another twist to the publican’s history revealed he was banned from directing a business until 2030 after his business was liquidated with £1.4m debt.
Ray has defended his position and said he needs to ‘get his side across’ particularly regarding some of the issues surrounding the Tulketh Taps where he felt he was victimised by police.
He said: “The company went bust in London, it happens, companies go bust.
“But that was nothing to do with the pubs. I went to court and we had a review and I won, I wanted to work together with the police. I’d had a bit of trouble with my pub, it was on a crossroads where a lot of gangs were coming in and it was hard work.”
Ray then decided to sell the pub to his friend Nicky Kirby but says the police were still concerned that he would be in there running it.
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He said: “They didn’t believe me and said to Nicky that they’d revoke the license unless he agreed not to let me in the pub. That was the only reason I was banned. I went to Bolton to run Hope and Anchor after that and ran it for a year and a half. I’ve never had any problems since. “
Ray moved to Blackpool to run the Sun Inn and says he wants to put the past behind him.
He is trying to give ‘proper good local’ pub a new lease of life and is encouraged how South Shore has its own distinct identity compared with the rest of Blackpool and says the response since he took over has been encouraging.
“I’ve got my premises licence, I have my personal licence, I’ve just put a temporary event notice in today for my Halloween party on the 31st, I’m not breaking any laws, I haven’t done anything wrong.
“But you know what, I’m getting a really good popularity, I’m getting really busy and I’ve just got to ride it out.
“People have a past, people do go bust, it happens, things go wrong in business and you can’t do anything about it. You have to liquidise it or whatever you have to do at the time.
“I’m not doing anything wrong, I shut on time, I don’t open late, no lock-ins, I don’t let kids in after certain times. I don’t want to make any mistakes.
“I’m scared to death he’s (police) going to come to Blackpool and get me again.”
A spokesperson for Lancashire Police said: “As with any licensed premises, it will be monitored and, if there are any issues, these will be dealt with in the usual way.”