A man living opposite a pub claims he has been threatened by its customers after making complaints about noise, anti-social behaviour and drug dealing. Malcolm Williams says drinkers at the Pool Dole, in Fenton, have physically assaulted him, cut off his CCTV camera and even mocked the death of his mother.
Stoke-on-Trent City Council is now set to consider Mr Williams’ application to have the Fenpark Road pub’s licence reviewed. The review has been supported by Staffordshire Police and the council’s licensing officers, who have called for extra conditions to be attached to the Pool Dole’s licence.
Mr Williams says that he and his wife have been dealing with problems at the Pool Dole on a regular basis since it was reopened by Admiral Taverns, following a major refurbishment, in April 2023. He has submitted 57 CCTV clips showing customers swearing loudly in the pub’s beer garden, urinating in the street, brawling and ‘potential drug deals’. Mr Williams has also complained about light pollution from festoon lighting surrounding the pub’s beer garden.
In a victim impact statement, Mr Williams says: “We see, hear all the constant drunk, foul and swearing behaviour across from our house. We have a beer garden at times full of up to 60 people who are drunk/drugged right on our doorstep. We cannot have our windows or doors open in warm weather or enjoy our garden.
“We can’t walk out of our house without expecting some vile comments or intimidation, anything to stop us from protesting about the Pool Dole.
“We never had problems like this within the local community until we started making justified complaints against the Pool Dole as regards drug use in front of children, drug dealing and so forth. It is sickening what has happened.” Mr William also says his house is now ‘virtually worthless and unsellable’ due to the Pool Dole.
The Pool Dole’s licence allows it to stay open until 12.30am, Sunday to Thursday, and until 1.30am on Fridays and Saturdays.
Staffordshire Police says there should be more ‘robust’ conditions relating to CCTV on the Pool Dole’s licence. The representation from the police describes an incident in July, where offenders had entered the pub after closing time and removed recording equipment, after an assault had been reported earlier in the evening.
Licensing Constable Dominic Gallimore says that expanding the use of CCTV will mean that ‘the likelihood of crime and disorder will diminish’. City council licensing officer Faye Withington has also called for tighter conditions, saying the current licence, which has not been varied since 2005, do not support the robust management required of a busy, modern premises’.
In addition to the CCTV requirements, the suggested conditions would also place restrictions on the use of the beer garden and festoon lighting, and require doors and windows to be closed while entertainment is taking place. But other local residents and customers of the Pool Dole have rallied to its support, submitting representations opposing the review.
Kenneth Ford, of Pool Street, says the pub’s recent modernisation has created jobs in the area, and that the pub has become an important community hub again. He says: No one is forced to use the pub but every time you enter the pub there’s a warm welcome. Mark and his team have become part of the community providing a safe environment for families and OAP and people who need that community spirit
“So I would like to show my extreme disappointment that the council have deemed to go through with this license review in a time where funds and staffing levels could be used elsewhere.”
Hulse Street resident Simon Johnson says that the complaints made against the Pool Dole are ‘not a true reflection of the feelings of the Fenpark community in general’. Mr Johnson says the pub’s management have installed CCTV and excluded certain individuals while encouraging a more family-friendly clientele.
A spokesperson for Admiral Taverns said: “We have been working closely with our licensees and relevant local authorities throughout the licencing review process and it would not be appropriate to comment any further at this time due to the hearing scheduled.”
The city council’s licensing sub-committee will consider the application to review the Pool Dole’s licence when it meets on Monday morning.