The Vale pub on Lilian Road, SW16 has had its license revoked by the Council’s Licensing Sub Committee after the Metropolitan Police initially applied for a Summary Review on 16 March 2022.
This is a fast-track procedure used in cases of serious crime or disorder occurring at a premises and was applied after the police had attended the pub the previous weekend following reports of a large disturbance outside.
On that occasion, the police found blood on the ground both inside and outside the pub, along with broken chairs and glass strewn across the pub floor.
On 17 March, the Licensing Sub Committee suspended the licence with immediate effect due to the seriousness of the incident and the risk of further violence occurring. The application was open to public consultation following the suspension, allowing residents to voice their concerns.
Safer Merton’s Antisocial Behaviour officers received reports from the local councillor and residents and arranged a meeting on the action plan.
The ASB team also emailed residents about the proposed long-term action when the license was initially suspended, encouraging them to participate in the public consultation.
On 11 April, the Committee considered the application in full and all submissions that had been made, hearing that the pub had a long history of problems under different tenants and other violent assaults had occurred over a number of years.
The Committee revoked the pub’s licence on 20 April, considering this the only appropriate response in light of the severity of the issues and the effect they were having on local residents.
“Considering the reputation of the premises, whereby residents had described drug taking, damage to vehicles, intimidation to women and girls and to the local nursery,” a Council statement read, “it was determined that revocation was the only option in the absence of any other real proposals on ongoing use and management of the premises.”