Police challenge licensing conditions at Brighton's oldest gay pub after 'alarming' incidents

The pub’s licence came under review after it was one of five Brighton venues caught serving underage in a police sting, coupled with ‘increasing concern’ about its management.

Police had requested that the venue close at 2am on Fridays and Saturdays, a four-week closure period and that an electronic identification scanning system be introduced. However, the city’s licensing panel decided to reduce the pub’s hours to 2am with a 3am closing time, to suspend the licence from midnight and not to apply the ID system condition.

Chief Superintendent Kemp said he was ‘disappointed’ by the decision and that the new conditions would do little to help the police.

“I do not believe that these limited conditions, which fall well short of what was requested, adequately support us in reducing this clear risk to public safety and I am disappointed about that. 

"So many alarming incidents have taken place at the Bulldog - including a very serious sexual assault of a 13-year-old girl after she was ejected from the premises just hours after the pub failed a police-led under-age test purchase operation - mean in our view that more impactive changes than those stipulated are needed.

"When comparing the size of this pub to other venues in the city, the number of offences is unacceptably disproportionate.

"Under the circumstances, and following discussions with colleagues, I have decided that the right course of action is for Sussex Police to take the unusual step of appealing this decision to the magistrates' court."

On Facebook, the bar’s management  said it ‘cared very deeply’ for the venue but had been spoiled by a few individuals.