Bromley magistrates call time on The Beech Tree, St Mary Cray after anti-social behaviour complaints
3:10pm Sunday 17th June 2012 in News By Robert Fisk
The Beech Tree pub has closed after Bromley magistrates agreed with council decision
A BOOZER has closed after complaints about loud music and intimidating and anti-social behaviour led its alcohol licence to be taken away.
Bessim Bessim had decided to challenge Bromley Council’s decision to revoke his licence for The Beech Tree at Bromley Magistrates’ Court.
But after three days of evidence about the pub, in Wellington Road, St Mary Cray, the magistrates agreed with the council’s licensing sub-committee.
Licensing sub-committee chairman Councillor Nicholas Bennett said: "Bromley Council will always take firm action to deal with breaches of the licensing laws.
“In this instance the landlord had repeatedly refused to take advice from the council, the pub landlords and the police about the noise coming from his pub and the general nuisance he was causing.
“We are delighted that the magistrates have found that the decision to remove his licence was lawful and reasonable given his behaviour.
“We look forward to the landlords reopening the pub with a new licensee once the present tenant has left."
During the pub licence review last December the committee heard the council’s public health nuisance team had received a series of complaints about loud music and antisocial behaviour by drinkers in the pub and the landlord.
These complaints dated back to March last year.
The pub had been issued with a noise abatement notice last year and had speakers, amplifiers and its television seized last August after it breached the notice.
More equipment was seized by council officers on May 25 after more complaints of noise.
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