A Streatham pub has been stripped of its licence after two serious assaults in three months.
The Vale’s licence was temporarily suspended in March after a huge brawl saw blood smeared on the windows with glass and chairs smashed in the pub.
On Wednesday (April 20) Merton Council published its decision to revoke the pub’s licence meaning it is not allowed to reopen.
The review was called for by police after a “large scale disturbance” at the Lilian Road pub in the early hours of March 13.
The force said there was smashed glass on the pavement, blood on the ground and blood smeared on a window of the pub.
They said despite the trouble nobody had called the police.
It was the second time police had been called to the pub, previously called the Mitcham Mint, in a few months.
Another man was beaten up at The Vale in December 2021.
At the time of the incidents, the premise licence was held by North and South Leisure Ltd, which said the people who instigated the violence had been barred for life.
But in recent weeks, the licence was transferred back to the landlord Star Pubs and Bars.
In a report to Merton Council’s licensing committee police said both victims would not cooperate with an investigation due to fear.
The force said after speaking to locals, officers suspected more unreported incidents have taken place at the pub.
The committee met in private last week to discuss the pub’s future.
A report published on Wednesday (April 20) said a resident described the latest incident as a “snapshot of what usually occurred at the premises, which had been causing issues for years for local residents”.
The report shows that Star Pubs and Bars was the licence holder between 2013 and 2018.
During this time, seven “serious issues” had occurred according to the police, from common assault to grievous bodily harm.
The council decided to revoke the licence and a decision read: “Considering the reputation of the premises, whereby residents had described drug taking, damage to vehicles, intimidation to women and girls and to the local nursery, it was determined that revocation was the only option in the absence of any other real proposals on ongoing use and management of the premises.”
The pub company will be able to reapply for a licence in the future and can appeal the decision within 21 days.
Reacting to the decision, Star Pubs and Bars said: “We are disappointed by the outcome of the licensing committee hearing.
"We will take time to consider the decision and consult with all relevant parties in order to agree a possible way forward.
"We only wish to create welcoming, friendly pubs which serve the whole community.”
North and South Leisure Ltd was contacted.
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