A hearing on whether to revoke the licence of a town centre bar and shop has been adjourned until later this month.
The hearing for Bar Iguana and Premier will now take place on March 26, at 830am, alongside a review of the chicken shop next door, which has the same owner.
Reading Borough Council’s (RBC) Licensing committee, the police, the licensing team and the licence holder all agreed to delay the meeting because a lot of new information had been sent in ahead of the hearing.
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Police have strongly recommended the licence be revoked because of large scale fights, possession of drugs and a stabbing in the area, as well as the need to use a taser to arrest one individual.
PC Simon Wheeler said: “There has been a history of poor management and processes linked to this premises licence and numerous incidents of crime and disorder involving both individuals and groups.”
Thames Valley Police (TVP) called in a review of Bar Iguana and Premier’s licence due to "sustained high levels of crime and disorder" inside and outside the businesses.
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TVP have also pointed to an incident in December 2019, where a woman fell down the stairs at Bar Iguana and hit her head on a metal rim, causing potentially life changing injuries.
A police officer said staff at the venue “seemed uninterested” and one member of staff attempted to usher another client over the injured woman.
Police also discovered off-licence store Premier has been selling alcohol later than its licence allows and sold alcohol to a 17-year-old.
Bar Iguana and Premier share one licence, held by Mohammed Saleem, which the council could choose to revoke, modify or keep the status quo at the re-arranged hearing.
Mr Saleem is also the licence holder for Favourite Chicken and Pizza, which is next door and whose licence will be reviewed on the same day.
PC Wheeler suggested the combined impact of the three shops is the reason for issues in St Mary’s Butts, with the area ranking number one for crime in the town centre between 11pm and 6am.
Supporters say the bar and shop are not the cause of issues.
The council’s licensing team is in support of revoking the licence or modifying it.
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