Forest Row bar’s licence up for review after alleged breaches of coronavirus regulations

Wealden councillors are set to consider the future of a Forest Row bar facing allegations of drug use and breaches of coronavirus regulations.

On Tuesday (December 1), a panel of Wealden District Council licensing panel is set to consider the alcohol sales licence of the Hop Yard Brewing Co. in Lewes Road.

The hearing comes in light of an application from the council’s own environmental health team, calling on councillors to either revoke or suspend the bar’s licence. 

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The panel had originally been set to meet at the beginning of November, but the hearing was rescheduled. 

The application includes evidence from Sussex Police officer PC Daren Buck, who has visited the premises on a number of occasions since last summer.

In a written statement, PC Buck describes how he first visited the premises on June 19 and discovered what he considered to be people drinking on the premises, which was illegal at the time. 

However, this is disputed by the business owner and licence holder Adam Harman-Clarke, who says the people had been family members sitting in a private area. 

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Others on the premises had been staff members, he added, while those drinking in the courtyard were off of the licensed premises.

He also denied that anyone had been allowed to buy, then consume alcohol on the premises at this time.

PC Buck visited the premises again on September 5 finding what was described as “breaches of the Covid secure guidelines”,  including standing service, lack of social distancing and the absence of a test and trace log. This is also disputed by Mr Harman-Clarke.

During this visit PC Buck also conducted drug swabs in the toilets of the premises. The results showed some surfaces had been in contact with large quantities of cocaine and MDMA.

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The bar has since introduced measures intended to prevent drugs use, including the removal of toilet seats and the installation of high-power fans. 

In his representation, Mr Harman-Clarke also said there had been some “malicious” false reports of coronavirus breaches at the premises, which he put down to “bias” and a dispute with some of the bar’s neighbours.

The council’s environmental health team, however, says the breaches reported should see the bar’s licence revoked or suspended.  

In the application, council environmental health manager Una Kane said: “In the time of a global pandemic the actions of The Hop Yard Brewing Company Ltd are reckless and without regard to safety of customers and the local community. 

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“Mr A Harman Clark (sic) was repeatedly given advice which he did not accept, preferring to describe Wealden’s approach as harassment.

“The behaviour and actions of the management of the premises showed wilful disregard for compliance with legislation and controlling the behaviour of customers.”

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