A pub in Weston-super-Mare has had its licence suspended
until the outcome of a full licensing review hearing, planned for
next month.
Avon and Somerset Police asked us (as the licensing authority
for the area) to carry out an expedited review of the premises
licence at Hotshotz, in Meadow Street, Weston-super-Mare.
In their written application to us, the police outlined that
they had carried out a covert operation on Hotshotz between March
and September this year, which culminated in the execution of a
warrant under the Misuse of Drugs Act on 16 November.
The review application also said there had been multiple drug
sales (including to undercover officers), suspected class a and b
drugs had been found and seized from the vicinity of the public bar
and the private accommodation (upstairs from the public area of the
licensed premises) of Kashmira Johal, the 'premises licence holder'
and 'designated premises supervisor'.
The application also said that extensive traces of drugs had
been found in Mr Johal's accommodation and that there had been
several serious assaults in and around the premises.
A meeting of our licensing sub-committee was held in the town
hall in Weston this morning. Before any information was given by
the police, their solicitor Okchukwu Adieze made an application to
the committee that because of ongoing police investigations that
the press and public should be excluded from the hearing. The
committee agreed to this request.
Having heard from the police and Mr Johal the committee retired
and when they returned they had reached a unanimous decision that
the licence for the premises would be suspended until a full review
hearing could be scheduled early next month. This means the
premises will be shut until the outcome of that hearing.
Superintendent Julian Moss from Avon and Somerset Police said:
"We have listened to the concerns of local people, and taken action
which has culminated in the decision taken today.
"I hope this demonstrates our commitment to take local people's
concerns very seriously, and that we always aim to take appropriate
action to respond to those concerns as part of our ongoing campaign
to make Weston-super-Mare an even safer place.
"We will await the outcome of the full licensing review hearing
with interest."
