A historic pub, known for its iconic status in a seaside town, has lost its alcohol license due to a series of unfortunate events. This beloved Victorian-era establishment, the Royal Hotel in Broadway, Sheerness, has served as a local watering hole for decades. However, recent troubles, including multiple brawls and drug-related incidents, have led to its downfall.
The police, concerned about the pub's reputation as a haven for drug users and dealers, presented their case to the Swale council's licensing committee. PC Andre Smuts, who has been monitoring the situation since the new owner, Ramesh Rajathurai, took over, highlighted eight incidents that occurred between December and October. These incidents included assaults, disturbances, and drug-related activities.
But here's where it gets controversial: the pub's lawyer, David Dadds, argued that the police evidence was exaggerated and that there was no concrete proof of drug use within the premises. He pointed out that only two transparent bags, suspected of containing cocaine, were found in the toilet system, and no testing was conducted.
The lawyer further emphasized the damage caused to the business's reputation, leading to a significant drop in customers. This came after the owner invested £120,000 in the lease and renovations.
The first incident that caught the police's attention was a minor skirmish outside the pub, where a person was threatened with a pool cue, and a woman banged on the windows. PC Smuts expressed his concern about the lack of reporting from the pub's staff, which became a recurring issue.
On two separate occasions, assaults occurred outside the pub, and neither was reported to the police by the staff. The committee also heard about a man being punched in the doorway, which led to the involvement of the council's CCTV team and a resident calling the police.
The first drug operation, involving drug dogs, took place on May 16. People were seen running to the back of the building upon seeing the officers, and a man was arrested for possessing a Class A drug. Another incident involved a man being hit in the face with a glass outside the pub, and the owners' attempts to provide medical assistance were followed by an argument and an attempt to smash a window.
At this point, the committee heard that the owners, Mr. Rajathurai and his son Ashwin Ramesh, chased the victim away with pool cues. PC Smuts noted that one of the cues appeared shorter, suggesting it may have been used as a weapon.
The police apologized for the inaccurate reporting of the number of bags found in the toilets during the drug operation. The committee expressed extreme concern about the incident, considering the owners' actions potentially inflammatory in an already dangerous situation.
A second drug operation took place in September, and during the search, a woman was arrested for possessing suspected cocaine and assaulting a police officer and a police dog. The frequency of these incidents, while not high, was considered serious enough to undermine the licensing objectives.
The latest incident, which allegedly involved a person attempting to run over a woman with a car, was the final straw for the licensing committee. PC Smuts summed up his report by stating that the owners were nice people but their inaction allowed the pub to become a haven for drug users and dealers.
Mr. Dadds called the licensing officer's claims outrageous and unacceptable, emphasizing the lack of evidence to support these allegations. He questioned why, if there were drug dealers present, they were not arrested and why the police evidence was so exaggerated.
The owners, described as good characters, were willing to accept the conditions of a new license agreement, but the committee decided to revoke the alcohol license. The decision was published on December 22, and the owners have until January 12 to appeal.
The 200-year-old building, with its rich history dating back to 1825, will continue to operate as a hotel, but its future as a pub is uncertain. This iconic establishment, built by Sir Edward Banks, who also constructed parts of the Sheerness Royal Dockyard and the London and Waterloo Bridges, has faced its fair share of challenges.
And this is the part most people miss: the impact of negative publicity and the power of perception. The Royal Hotel's reputation has taken a hit, and it remains to be seen if it can recover and regain its status as a beloved local pub.
