Harrogate pub Coach & Horses gets licence to reopen under new management after lockdown breaches

The Coach & Horses was run by landlord John Nelson when it had its licence revoked in July after setting up tables and chairs on the roadside for crowds of up to 45 customers buying takeaway drinks.

Harrogate Borough Council's licensing sub-committee previously said the West Park pub showed a "blatant disregard" for restrictions and has now granted a licence to Samantha Nelson, the daughter of Mr Nelson.

The committee made the decision at a meeting on Thursday when Ms Nelson told councillors "there's no way I will make the same mistakes that my dad did.”

She said her father would continue to live in a flat above the pub but insisted he will have no involvement in the running of it.

Ms Nelson also said the pub - which first opened in 1827 - would be refurbished and reopen after Christmas.

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At the time of the lockdown breaches in May, over 40 people complained to the council after spotting drinkers gathering outside the pub.

Police and council staff visited several times and Mr Nelson told them he would only remove the outdoor furniture if he was served a prohibition notice. One was handed to him on May 31.

Councillors also heard how council staff had faced verbal abuse from drinkers, with one customer following officers back to their cars.

Bar stools, beer barrels and chairs were set up outside the pub across four days on the Bank Holiday weekend, and CCTV footage showed the furniture was still used after the prohibition notice was served.

A lawyer for Mr Nelson previously said he accepted that he made a "chronic error of judgement".

The pub had been serving takeaway beer as part of a fundraiser for a local charity, Horticap, and selling flowers and drinks, but the charity refused to accept the £3,000 that was raised.

Granting the new licence on Thursday, councillor Victoria Oldham, chair of the sub-committee, said: “The committee have decided to approve the application with three conditions. The pub will be able to open until midnight, not until 12.30am.

“No customer, carrying bottles or glasses, will be admitted to the premises at any time. No customer will be permitted to take open containers from the premises. The pull-out seats presently fixed to the exterior of the premises must be removed before it is reopened."

By Jacob Webster, Local Democracy Reporter