Nightclub will still sell alcohol

By Linzi Watson

Last updated 15:00, Thursday, 21 August 2008

A WORKINGTON nightclub supervisor who was stripped of his position has insisted the club will not stop selling alcohol.

Kevin Norman, who runs Hogs and Heffers was told he cannot legally sell alcohol by a licensing panel this week.

But he has been assured that the restrictions will not take force for 21 days and by then he says he will have a new designated supervisor – needed to enable the club to sell alcohol – in place.

Mr Norman told the News & Star: “There will be no break in the sale of alcohol at all.

“These restrictions do not take place for 21 days and at this time a new supervisor with the required licence will take over.

“I do not want our customers to think that the pub is closing – it is not.

Mr Norman lost his position at the Jane Street club after Allerdale Council licensing panel took a “dim view” of violent incidents at the town centre night spot.

They originally told him the restriction would come into effect immediately but the position was clarified yesterday.

The panel heard how police had been called to the club 12 times since July 22 to deal with incidents including a mass brawl and assaults on police officers.

Officials told Mr Norman, who also runs the Curwen Arms and The Travellers Rest, that they had come very close to revoking his licence but decided to give him one last chance.

Mr Norman was also ordered to close the club at 2am and not to allow anyone inside the premises after 1am, including those who leave to smoke.

Door supervisors must also wear high visibility clothing, an automatic door counter must be fitted with only 400 people allowed in the premises at any one time.