A BARROWFORD pub boss flouted licensing laws by serving drinks and playing “loud” music after time, a court heard.
Grandmother Catherine Tattersall (58), licensee at Winstons, had been warned by police after a complaint of early hours noise, but was later caught again in a “covert” police investigation, when three special constables posed as customers.
Tattersall, a member of the Barrowford Show committee for 20 years and who judges children’s pets at the event, was “mortified” to be asked to go to the police station, but went voluntarily and found being questioned “quite daunting, Pennine magistrates were told.
The hearing was told how Tattersall, whose solicitor described her offending as a “fall from grace,” had since had her licence hours extended and the police had not objected to her application.
The defendant, of Pasture Lane, Barrowford, admitted one count of carrying on unauthorised licensable activity, by providing regulated entertainment on April 3rd, and three similar allegations, one involving providing regulated entertainment and two of serving alcohol after permitted hours, all on April 14th. Tattersall, who has no previous convictions, was given a 12-month conditional discharge, with £50 costs. The police had wanted temporary suspension of her licence for two to four weeks, but the Bench said they saw no reason to.
Mrs Alex Mann (prosecuting) said police went to Winstons, a small pub/club in the centre of Barrowford, on a Tuesday and could hear noise from inside, despite it being 1 a.m. The premises were locked, but were opened and the music was turned off. The defendant held a personal alcohol licence, which at that time ran from Sunday to Thursday, between 8 p.m. and 11-30 p.m. and until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. She should have stopped trading at 11-30 p.m.
On April 14th, she breached her licence conditions again. Police visited, drinks were served and recorded loud music was being played at almost 1 a.m, despite the time and despite the earlier warning.
For Tattersall, Mr Ian Baker said Winstons was very old fashioned, small and used to be a members’ club. The clientele was not troublesome.
The solicitor continued: “This lady did apply to the local authority to extend licensing hours and indeed on May 23rd, the hours were extended and the police did not raise any objections.”
Mr Baker said the music was a CD player behind the bar and was not live or amplified. There had been no involvement of the environmental health department and no noise abatement issue.
On April 14th, when three special constables attended the premises, music was being played and they were also able to get two rounds of drink after time. There were no fights or anti- social behaviour. The solicitor went on: “There were three, very well -dressed, polite people in the premises.
“This lady has been at these premises for 23 years and this is the first time she has been hauled in and spoken to by the police.”
The solicitor added Tattersall was well known in the area, was involved in the community and had been on the committee of Barrowford Show for 20 years. She had equestrian interests and rescued horses. He added: “She has learned a lot from this. I don’t think there will be a repetition of these offences.”