A violent brawl and evidence of drug use and stashing has resulted in a three-month licence suspension for a Brighton pub.
The three-month suspension at the King’s Arms, in George Street, Brighton, was described as a way to “break the link” with the pub’s past issues with drug use, violence and “problem clientele”.
At a summary review hearing on Tuesday 20 October, a panel of three councillors – Julie Cattell, Andrei Czolak and John Hewitt – saw security camera footage of violence at the pub on Friday 25 September. Police made two arrests.
PC Andre Bernascone showed footage of drug swabs and searches in the men’s toilets taken the next day when bags with traces of white powder and a personal stash of cannabis were found.
The bodycam footage also showed betting slips left on a table in the bar, with a shopping list that included “bread, milk, sugar, cornflakes, coke 4 grams”, with “or an 8 ball” on the other side.
Police licensing officer Claire Abdelkader said that the drug swabs had “high” readings for cocaine, indicating recent and direct contact with the drug, with the highest readings indicating bulk quantities.
The pub is owned by the Craft Union Pub Company which is, in turn, owned by Stonegate Pub Company.
Stonegate licensing director Paul Wright, who was at the hearing, previously met Sussex Police representatives to discuss a list of draft conditions.
Craft Union Pub Company solicitor Alex Green asked the panel not to revoke or suspend the licence but to allow the recruitment of a new designated premises supervisor (DPS) who would comply with additional licensing conditions.
The company accepted that the previous DPS, who had legal responsibility for alcohol sales, did not act appropriately during the violence and did not have control of the premises or customers.
The council sent the pub owner a decision letter saying: “The panel takes very seriously the evidence presented to it in this summary review application.
“As well as the major incident on (Friday) 25 September 2026, it is very concerned about the failings of the DPS and management in general, including the licence holder company, and also the seemingly deep-rooted issues of high intoxication levels and drug use associated with these premises.
“This is evident from the material presented including the representations from local residents which were compelling and also measured.
“Because of this the panel has given serious consideration to revoking the licence.
“However, it does recognise that the premises licence holder company has taken some pro-active steps and presented a raft of robust conditions and they have worked with the police.”
The draft conditions include
- two door staff on Friday and Saturday
- a new DPS and team
- toilet checks for drugs every 30 minutes
- a direct contact number for residents and quarterly meetings with neighbours
The council added: “This suspension is not a punishment but an appropriate alternative to revocation and necessary to mark a new departure for the premises.
“The panel is thus giving the licence holder a chance to turn what has clearly been a very high-risk troubled premises into one in which the licensing objectives are promoted and residents and responsible authorities can have confidence.”
Craft Union has the right to appeal against the suspension.
So does that mean that Brighton police station will also close fot three months? after all the police ignore the open drug dealing and taking on our streets making it impossible to keep drugs out of venues.
Police don’t control the venues, publicans do under council licencing within the guidelines given, council gives out permits and the Police can only give advice not make permit decisisions, the Police arrest druggies the courts set them free, not the Police. What next ???