Bar's licence suspended after cocaine discoveries

A Market Rasen bar has had its licence suspended for three months after evidence of cocaine was repeatedly found there.

West Lindsey District Council's licensing subcommittee heard on Thursday that Lincolnshire Police officers had repeatedly found high cocaine readings in the venue, and they said the owner had ignored a litany of problems for months.

Simon Moorhouse, the owner of Buzz Bar on Queen Street, said he had been unable to devote much time to the bar due to ill health, and previous staff had let him down.

The subcommittee said it was "extremely concerned about repeated high drug itemiser readings, with no demonstrated measures to address this".

It also heard concerns about CCTV, staff training and record-keeping.

Sgt Amy Adams said there had been "clear and consistent non-compliance", despite repeated warnings and opportunities to improve.

Moorhouse said he was inexperienced in running bars and had relied on others for advice. He said instructions he left for staff were often ignored, and he insisted anyone caught using drugs would be removed and barred.

When asked if he turned a blind eye to drug use, he replied: "If people do it, we'll get rid of them and they'll never, never come in again."

John Ashworth, representing Moorhouse, said: "He accepts failings have occurred on the premises licence, which he deeply regrets.

"This is partly due to naivety as a new [licence-holder] and ill health.

"He is taking this matter extremely seriously and taking steps to become compliant."

The committee questioned whether Moorhouse was able to fulfil the role of designated premises supervisor and manage the day-to-day business, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

It suspended the licence for three months, but said the bar could reopen sooner if a new supervisor was appointed and police were satisfied all breaches had been addressed.

Moorhouse, who took on the business as a retirement project, said he planned to transfer the licence to his deputy manager.

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