New ownership has secured the future of a Bexley bar after reports of an all-night drug-fuelled poker game threatened to close it down.
Tap at 3 Wellington Parade on Blackfen Road in Sidcup nearly lost its premises licence after police witnessed footage of alleged illegal gambling and drug use taking place at the boozer after hours in April.
The Met also raised concerns about an 18th birthday party in March where a woman was assaulted with a glass, a large fight broke out and underage drinking was suspected to have occurred.
Bexley Council’s Licensing Sub-Committee met to conduct a review of Tap’s premises licence on June 18. On the recommendation of Bexley’s licensing department and police, the committee decided to show leniency as Tap’s new owner was completely unaware the alleged wrongdoing had taken place there.
Daniel Carr knew nothing about his new bar’s premises licence review until he read a report by the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) six days before the committee meeting. He had purchased Tap for £40,000 just a fortnight prior.
Licensing enforcement officer Geraldine Eley said there was “no question” that she was originally asking for a full revocation of the licence. However, she said Mr Carr had no connection to Tap’s previous owners “as far as we know”.
Ms Eley said: “It’s like me buying a car that someone else has been caught with drugs in. It’s got a marker on it, but it’s not me. I’m going to get pulled over until that maker comes off the car.”
Ms Eley also said that Tap’s previous owner had told her in April when she delivered the premises licence review papers that he was looking to sell the business and move to Spain.
PC Kate Ellen concurred with the view of Bexley’s licensing enforcement officer. She said the likelihood of similar events occurring at Tap again were now “vastly reduced” because of the bar’s new owner and management.
Mr Carr said he purchased the Sidcup bar via a third party with the aim of co-running a business with his wife. He owns two other businesses but the pair decided to buy Tap so they could have a business project they could run together as a couple.
The new owner said he planned to shut down the business for a short while to re-decorate and refurbish it after the World Cup had finished. When relaying his ignorance of the alleged crime that had occurred at Tap, Mr Carr quipped “Why would you buy it?” and confirmed he was not told of the premises licence review when he took over the business.
After the committee delivered its final decision to not revoke Tap’s premises licence, Mr Carr was visually relieved and elated, shaking the hands of committee members before leaving.
