Royal Oak pub in Liscard fighting early closure order after police revealed a catalogue of disorder inside

Sep 9 2009 by Luke Traynor, Bromborough and Bebington News

A WIRRAL pub is fighting an order to close early after a spate of violence inside its doors was revealed by police.

Councillors told the Royal Oak in Liscard to shut an hour earlier at 1am at weekends following the catalogue of disorder.

But pub bosses say the reduction would threaten the future of the venue which showcases regular live bands to customers.

They also claim the police dossier that led to the order to close early was misleading and inaccurate.

Landlord Tommy Jones said his brewery was appealing the decision, adding that occasional disorder was inevitable at the busiest nightspot in the village.

The Royal Oak was taken to a review hearing after Merseyside Police produced a list of 29 incidents said to have happened within a 12-month period.

The most serious was the stabbing of a woman in the eye with a stiletto heel which led to the arrest of another woman, in her mid-20s. Also included in the police dossier was the glassing of a man inside the pub which left the victim needing 41 stitches.

Licensee Mr Jones said he disputed claims from police that all the incidents had happened in his pub, claiming that, in particular, the stiletto stabbing incident happened some distance from the premises.

And he detailed a series of measures like widespread CCTV and doormen put in place to keep trouble away.

Mr Jones said: “We showcase up and coming young bands and shutting an hour earlier would really hurt us financially as we pay £1,300 in rent a week and £500 in business rates.

“For about five of the incidents in that dossier, we have phoned police ourselves. I remember one when a girl was throwing pint glasses at one of our barmaids.”

The Royal Oak closes at 1am during the week, which police want to reduce to midnight as part of the crackdown.

Mr Jones said: “Since we were taken to a review hearing, there has been just one small scuffle here. It’s been an overreaction.”