Licence issue closes bar

Licence issue closes bar

22 January 2014

THE Dufferin Arms in Killyleagh has been closed since Monday due to a suspected licensing issue.

The popular High Street pub is expected to remain closed until Saturday when an administrative error relating to its licence to sell alcohol should be

resolved.

The local bar is the latest in a number of pubs across Northern Ireland that have been forced to temporarily close due to the expiration of their licences.

The National Trust-owned Crown Bar in Belfast closed earlier this month after its licence expired although it reopened shortly afterwards when

the licence renewal was expedited through the courts. This means the Dufferin Arms should also reopen by the weekend.

Mr. Colin Neill, Chief Executive of The Pubs of Ulster, which is the professional body of the Retail Licensing Trade in Northern Ireland, said they were working hard to ensure the Dufferin Arms reopens as soon as possible.

He said the issue of the expiration of licences had come to light for several publicans, who normally have a year of grace following the expiration of their licence to renew it.

“These licences will be renewed, it is just a matter of getting it to court and going through the process, which can take some time,” he said.

“We are doing all we can to see if we can shorten that process.

“It is very important that this licence is renewed as quickly as possible because in the meantime there are employment issues and a potential risk to business.

“What happened to the Crown Bar meant a number of publicans checked their own licences which in turn highlighted this issue.”

Killyleagh councillor William Walker said he hoped the Dufferin Arms would reopen as soon as possible.

As one of the area’s most historic pubs, he said it was an important tourist magnet and a key employer in the town.

“It would be a shame if the Dufferin Arms did not reopen as soon as possible,” he said.