Death incident pub could close

Yates Group has failed in its Crown Court battle to save one of its sites from closure following a violent incident there last year.

The site in Swinton, Manchester, is facing closure as police are expected to apply for a full revocation of the licence.

This follows a fight at the pub in March last year, during which Frank Buckley, 47, was attacked and killed by a gang of men. These included a doorman employed by a doorstaff company used by the pub chain.

Yates launched an appeal after Salford Magistrates refused to renew its licence application.

At the time chairman of the bench Roger Hall said the pub had caused a public nuisance and was likely to pose a threat to public safety.

The appeal by Yates against the judgment was refused at Manchester Crown Court on May 13.

Greater Manchester Police had originally submitted an application to have the licence revoked in April 2004 following a series of violent incidents in 2002 and 2003.

After negotiations with Yates and consultation with the local authority they reached an agreement for trading to continue.

Conditions were put in place following the incident, including initiatives to turn it into a family-friendly pub, to end drinks promotions and happy hours, and to introduce shatterproof glass and CCTV.

Mark Jones, chief executive of the Bolton-based group, said the company was even willing to help pay the cost of putting two police officers on the beat in Swinton at weekends to help rid the town of its yobs.

A spokeswoman for Yates said: "We are very disappointed with the court's decision and have to consider our options for the future of this site."

In December last year, the doorman, Daniel Anderson, from Clifton, Manchester, who was registered illegally and was only 17 years old, was jailed for five years for pleading guilty to Mr Buckley's manslaughter.

His boss Brian Horrocks, 38, of Swinton, was convicted of violent disorder and sentenced to three-and-a-half years.