Bar stripped of licence

Tuesday March 9, 2010

A Fulham bar which was shut last month by police fearing for the safety of the public has had its licence suspended until the beginning of May.

At a licensing review on March 1, H&F Council's licensing sub-committee unanimously decided that Chateau 6 in Fulham Road could not re-open with an alcohol licence.

The review heard that the police took the rare step of closing Chateau 6 during the Chelsea v Cardiff FA Cup match at Stamford Bridge on February
13.

Met Police Insp Penny Mills, in charge of policing pubs and bars in Fulham Broadway that day, said: "In the four years I have worked in Fulham, it is the first time that we have taken the step of closing premises."

Gillian Crew, representing the police, said the bar was open at 10.10am and customers were drinking alcohol, despite the licence stating it could only begin serving drinks at 11am on a Chelsea home match day.

Neither the premises supervisor nor the manager - father and daughter team Bryan and Suzanne Mason - were at the bar when it opened, and door security staff were not using metal detector wands to search customers - a licence condition.

Police felt that keeping the bar open would pose a risk to public safety as the managers were not carrying out their duties properly.

H&F cabinet member Greg Smith said: "By seriously breaching licence conditions, the management of Chateau 6 compromised the safety of residents and visitors. Suspending its licence until serious and positive changes are made is essential."

However, Sir Ivan Lawrence QC, representing Chateau 6, said staff had opened the bar early without the Masons' knowledge.

He said: "They realise there were breaches in the licence conditions and I apologise profoundly on their behalf.

"Had they wanted to open early they would have applied for a licence extension, but they had no interest or intention of opening early. The Masons were at home."

Sir Ivan claimed staff had served drinks to colleagues at 10.05am. When some Chelsea fans walked in, staff assumed Chateau 6's licence was the same as the King's Head's opposite, which opened at 10am, and thought it was permissible to serve customers.

He added that Chateau 6 had already met police requests to change the bar's supervisor, as Mr Mason had retired.

New manager and personal licence holder Wesley Harrington had stepped in as supervisor and would be recruiting new staff.

As well as suspending the licence, the sub-committee added conditions. They included the stipulation that there must always be a designated premises supervisor or personal licence holder from the management team on duty at the bar.

For Chelsea home matches, there must be at least three door staff on duty from three hours before kick-off until the bar closes, with all drinks served in industry-approved plastic glasses.

Councillors also insisted everyone entering the bar must be searched with metal detecting wands, or 'search mitts', and recommended that the manager look at the performance of the bar's security company.

Chateau 6 has 21 days to appeal.

Following the cup game, there were scuffles in Fulham Road and Kings Road between rival fans.