Tough message for Harrogate pub on eve of licence review

Harrogate Borough Council has sent a strong message to one of the town's most popular pubs on the eve of a licence review about its behaviour during lockdown.
The landlord of the Coach & Horses faces a licence review tomorrow after a partial reopening in late May led to visits by officers from Harrogate council and the police.The landlord of the Coach & Horses faces a licence review tomorrow after a partial reopening in late May led to visits by officers from Harrogate council and the police.
The landlord of the Coach & Horses faces a licence review tomorrow after a partial reopening in late May led to visits by officers from Harrogate council and the police.

Mr John Nelson, the landlord of the Coach & Horses, an award-winning traditional real ale pub, faces a licence review tomorrow, Wednesday, after a partial reopening in late May led to visits by officers from Harrogate council and the police.

At that point before the Government eased lockdown on July 4 , Covid-19 regulations did not permit consumption of alcohol on the premises, including outdoor areas, or the provision of seating for use by customers anywhere adjacent to the premises.

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Action was taken jointly by the borough council and North Yorkshire Police after they say the pub located on West Park continued to trade in breach of coronavirus laws ignoring advice given by council officers in person as crowds of drinkers gathered in close proximity.

With Harrogate's licencing authority to meet tomorrow, Wednesday, July 22 to decide on Mr Nelson's premises licence under the Licensing Act 2003, the council is making it clear it will not tolerate abuse towards its staff when doing their job.

Harrogate Borough Council leader Coun Richard Cooper said the council was fully supportive of the reopening of bars and pubs but would not tolerate abuse of its staff.

He said: "My main worry in Harrogate is that establishments won’t be able to get the number of people through their doors to make a profit.

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"But, irrespective of whether the licensee is allowed to continue I think Mr Nelson needs to realise that abusing key workers who were doing their job protecting the public is unacceptable.

"Council staff were abused when they visited his premises to ask him to desist from his unsafe activities and then he abused them again in the local paper describing them as ‘petty jobsworths’.

"Whatever the outcome of his license hearing Mr Nelson needs to apologise for this abuse of key workers.”

Speaking to the Harrogate Advertiser last month, Coach & Horses licensee John Nelson dismissed the situation as "petty nonsense."

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Mr Nelson said the pub had been serving takeaway beer as part of what he said was four days of fundraising for a local charity, selling flowers and drinks.

Mr Nelson said: “Our pavements were clear. I had placed an A-board on the road at the side door of the pub saying “do not stand in front of this pub or on the surrounding pavements.

“On Sunday I decided to put some chairs and stools on the grass verge opposite the pub for the benefit and comfort of the people.

"Chairs and stools were placed at least two metres apart.

“At around 3pm I was visited by two jobsworths from Harrogate Borough Council.

“It’s petty nonsense and we have better things to do.”

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Coun Mike Chambers, Harrogate Borough Council’s cabinet member for housing and safer communities, said: “Even after officers visited the Coach and Horses pub, and advised the landlord of their responsibilities, they still felt the need to continue breaching coronavirus regulations. Sadly, this has now resulted in the review of the pub’s licence."

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