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Macs bar stripped of its licence but Andrew Macdonald vows to fight decision

Posted on - 22nd July, 2015 - 11:58am | Author - | Posted in - Crime, Preston City Centre, Preston News
Macs bar has been closed since early June

Macs bar has been closed since early June

Controversial bar and nightclub Macs bar has been stripped of its licence by Preston City Council.

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Andrew Macdonald, director of the bar, confirmed he had received an email stating the licence to serve alcohol and late night entertainment had been revoked.

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He said: “I’m gutted. I’m really disappointed. I did not see all these allegations coming and they are false.”

Councillors on the licensing sub-committee sat through a two-day hearing at the Town Hall where they heard allegations of underage drinkers in Macs and heavily discounted drinks promotions.

Mr Macdonald confirmed he would be looking to appeal the decision to Preston Magistrates Court.

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He said: “This is the wrong decision. I haven’t opened my bar since this closure order as I wanted to see where we stood with the council.

“We feel a lot of the problems identified by the police are quick fixes.

“I will appeal this decision.”

Mr Macdonald said he had not seen the full wording of the council’s decision but would be speaking with his solicitor following receiving it.

The two-day hearing featured evidence from three former door staff at Macs bar, Lancashire Police officers and public health officials at Lancashire County Council.

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Councillor David Hammond, chairing the hearing, closed the hearing on Friday saying they would go away and make their decision. The full reasons for revoking the licence have not yet been published but are understood to be due on Thursday.

Macs bar, in Friargate, currently employs around 108 people on a full and part-time basis.

Mr Macdonald said he had not decided whether to open the bar regardless of the decision. He has 21 days to decide whether to appeal the decision to the Magistrates Court and can open during this time.

He said: “I need to speak with my team. We’ve been closed since June. Maybe I should have opened when the closure order was overturned. I don’t know. We’ll speak and decide what’s next.”

Sergeant Tony Bushell from Preston Police’s licensing unit said: “We welcome the decision made by Preston City Council today.

“The review was submitted over concerns relating to the management of the premises after an investigation uncovered major failings of the management to promote the licensing objectives, predominantly around underage customers, the irresponsible retailing of alcohol and issues around dispersal at closing time.

“Over the last 12 months, we have raised these issues with the premises on a number of occasions and offered advice which unfortunately appears to have been ignored. This left us with no other option but to seek a revocation of the premises’ licence.”

What do you think of the decision? Let us know in the comments below

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