Tough new rules for notorious Bristol pub

A raft of tough conditions have been imposed on a notorious pub in Bristol after police ordered a review of its licence.

Avon and Somerset police called for action to be taken by Bristol City Council following several disturbances and reports of drug dealing at The Wayfarer in Pen Park Road, Southmead.

It is understood that the former manager of the pub resigned on June 6 and the pub has not opened since.

Father-of-two Chris Anderson, a 46-year-old haulage firm owner, has a false eye after he was punched in the face with a door key while having a drink with friends in The Wayfarer last year.

Earlier this year, he called for the venue to be bulldozed after PC Hen Staveley-Brown was hit in the face with a pint glass in the pub in February and feared she would lose her sight in her left eye.

The 40-year-old had to have dozens of stitches in wounds on her forehead – just inches above her eye and she was also left with broken bones in her face.

Although the city council's licensing committee decided not to revoke its licence, the pub's owners Enterprise Inns has been ordered to stick to a long list of rules.

The conditions are:

All drinks to be served in plastic or other non-breakable materials;

No bottles;

A minimum of two bouncers working on Friday and Saturday nights;

Improved CCTV;

No drinks promotions;

Proof of age scheme to be introduced;

No under 18s allowed in;

Drinking water to be provided for free;

All staff trained in drug awareness;

Toilets to be checked regularly;

Fire exits to be kept clear.

Bristol city councillor Alex Woodman (Lib Dem, Cabot) chaired the licensing sub committee hearing on June 25, when the pub's future was discussed.

He said: "We were told by the police that there were large scale issues of crime and disorder at the pub, including groups of people gathering in the car park, drug taking and drug dealing going on.

"One police officer was attacked there and another was injured when he intercepted a drug deal in the toilet and tried to make an arrest.

"There were also allegations of after-hours drinking and underage drinking, although the police said they had no evidence of this.

"We felt the grounds for the review had been satisfied. We have amended the licence quite heavily and put lots of new conditions on it.

"We had the option to revoke the licence and if the lady manager of the pub was still running it, we would have revoked the licence."

He added: "It all came down to bad management and she was not suitable for running the pub. They don't have a manager at the moment and until there is one, the pub can't trade.

"The pub company does have a right of appeal within 21 days."

Avon and Somerset police spokesman Steve Game said: "We instigated the licence review as a result of a number of incidents and issues surrounding the pub and the way it was managed." Enterprise Inns were unavailable for comment.