Wine bar owner is stripped of licence

Danielles Bar High St Lees

A “CAVALIER” licensee has been hit with fines and costs totalling £5,000 and has lost his right to sell alcohol after being found guilty of a catalogue of offences including allowing under 18s in his bar in Lees.

Nigel Sadler (51), who was the licensee at Danielle’s Wine Bar on High Street in Lees, was found guilty of 10 separate breaches of the terms of his licence at Oldham Magistrates Court yesterday.

The charges are based on evidence collected by police and Oldham Council workers on visits to the premises.

Sadler, of Watlington Close, Moorside, did not attend the hearing but in his absence magistrates found him guilty of allowing people under the age of 18 into the bar on two separate occasions — on February 15, 2014, and March 1, 2014.

He was also found to have not provided door staff for the bar when it was open after 10pm on three separate occasions and there was no door supervisor register to monitor this.

On June 13, last year, the rear fire exit to the bar was seen to be open meaning people could walk in and out unchecked and on the same night the bar was open and serving alcohol before 7pm which was again in breach of the conditions of Sadler’s licence.

Two of the 10 charges relate to Sadler not providing CCTV footage on request and the reason he gave was that he deleted it weekly although he is required to keep footage for atleast a month.

Alan Evans, prosecuting on behalf of Oldham Council, said: “He clearly demonstrated a very cavalier attitude to his responsibilities.

“He admitted he did not understand the terms of his licence and that demonstrates a total lack of regard to the licensing regulations.”

Sadler did hold a personal licence which would allow him to authorise sales of alcohol but an order was made at yesterday’s hearing for this to be forfeited.

Danielle’s Wine Bar is no longer operating and court heard the premises have been repossessed.

Mr Evans added: “He has not demonstrated a fitness to continue in that role as a personal licence holder.

“His attitude is not appropriate.”