A Dundee pub is to be hauled before the licensing committee after allegedly being caught serving drinks outwith its licensed hours.
The Arctic Bar in New Inn Entry has been reported to Dundee City Council’s licensing committee by Police Scotland, who claimed they found the bar open an hour after it was due to close during this year’s Blues Bonanza.
According to a letter submitted to the committee by the police’s area commander Conrad Trickett, the pub had shown a “total disregard” for licensing legislation by failing to comply with the terms of its licence and remaining open.
The Blues Bonanza was held over the weekend June 28-30 and the Arctic Bar was among the premises hosting live music.
Mr Trickett wrote: “In order to facilitate the festival and enhance the experience, all the premises taking part in the Blues Bonanza make application to the licensing board for extended hours.
“This application must be made at least 14 days prior to the date the event is due to take place and, if granted, would allow premises to remain open beyond their normal trading hours for a period as stipulated in the application.”
The area commander said that, two or three days before the event, a representative from the Arctic Bar attended the council’s licensing support services requesting an application to extend their operating hours from midnight to 1am, to accommodate bands from the Blues Bonanza.
“He was informed at this time that he was too late to apply for an extension and that such an application should have been made at least two weeks previously,” Mr Trickett added.
He said that on Sunday June 30, having received information, police officers attended at the premises.
He said: “The doors were open, the lights were on and music could be heard coming from a live band which was playing inside.
“On entering they saw about 30 people at the premises, some were inside, whilst others were sitting at tables outside the premises.
“It was seen that many of the customers were drinking alcohol. Many of the tables had pints of beer, and empty glasses and bottles thereon.”
According to the letter, the head bar person was under the impression that the bar was allowed to remain open until 1am. The bar shut and the police stood by while the patrons left without incident.
Mr Trickett said: “The premises management were fully aware that no extension of hours had been granted, yet continued to operate beyond their terminal hour regardless.
“This has shown a total disregard for the licensing legislation and is a wholly unsatisfactory situation, which has the potential to cause potential problems both for patrons and police officers alike and have an adverse impact on public safety.
“In short, the flagrant disregard for the licensing law displayed by the premises falls well short of the expected standards.”
Two other pubs the Victoria Bar and the Four Js were recently suspended after allowing football fans in before opening time.
The Arctic Bar’s hearing is due to go before committee on Thursday.