Licensing review of Hove cocktail bar takes place behind closed doors

Councillors listened to evidence in secret as they decided whether a bar in Hove should be stripped of its licence to sell alcoholic drinks.

The went into closed session after Sussex Police said that if they gave evidence in public it could affect an ongoing investigation.

The Mixologist, formerly Misty’s, in Church Road, Hove, had its licence suspended by Brighton and Hove City Council after a security guard was allegedly attacked outside last month.

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The press and public were excluded from the licence review hearing at Brighton Town Hall on Tuesday (March 10).

Police representatives asked for the licensing panel hearing to take place in private because their evidence would include “confidential information” obtained as part of the investigation into the alleged attack on Friday February 20.

The licensing panel hearing the case was made up of three councillors. Green councillors Lizzie Deane chaired the panel which included Labour councillors Carmen Appich and Theresa Fowler.

Sussex Police asked for the review after a mobile security officer was alleged to have been attacked with a machete.

The ground for the review is that in the opinion of a senior police officer the premises are associated with serious disorder.