UK pub loses its licence after knife attack

A pub in Kent has had its licence revoked with immediate effect after a violent knife attack.

(Photo: Chris Whippet/Geograph)

The Prince of Wales pub in Rochester, Kent, ceased trading when an appeal was sent to Medway council’s licensing committee, after a man in his 20s was attacked with a knife during an after-hours drinking session.

The victim sustained facial injuries when the attacker slashed his face with a knife, narrowly missing his right eye. He lost more than a litre of blood, and needed 40 stitches from his scalp to his cheek.

The pub had its license revoked following a meeting on Wednesday morning, on the grounds that the premises was associated with “serious crime and disorder.”

Officers had already been monitoring the venue over concerns of drug abuse, under-age drinking and serving after-hours, according to Kent Online.

A warning letter was submitted to pub landlord Alfred Martin as a result of the investigation.

Police were called to the premises after 1am on Saturday morning — outside the pub’s permitted Friday and Saturday trading hours which run from 10am until midnight.

Kent Police called for the Prince of Wales to be shut down following the incident on 10 March.

CCTV required as part of the pub’s licence conditions was not recording at the time.

A spokesperson for Medway Council told the drinks business that the panel decided to revoke the pub’s licence “with immediate effect”, although the landlord has the right to appeal.

The full decision will be published on the council’s website soon.