Injured Queen's Head doorman calls for better police presence in Newark
A doorman who could have lost an eye when he was glassed trying to police a Newark pub has lifted the lid on an average night out post-lockdown.
The doorman, who does not want to be named, works at the Queen's Head in Newark Market Place.
Two Saturdays ago, he was the intended target of a pint glass thrown by a youth who had been repeatedly declined entry to the Queen's Head because it was over its covid-19 regulation capacity of 30 patrons.
Unwilling to take no for an answer, the youth took advantage of a momentary distraction caused by a group trying to get inside to sneak around door staff.
Once ejected, a melee started that culminated with the youth throwing a pint glass in the face of the bouncer that smashed.
A shard of glass entered the eye of an innocent customer who had been sitting outside at the time.
The doorman was taken to hospital by ambulance and needed a specialist to stitch up the very many wounds to his face to reduce the amount of scarring.
"As a doorman, boots on the ground, any suggestion there are few issues in Newark couldn't be further from the truth," the doorman said.
"Since the pubs reopened it's been a nightmare — utter chaos.
"A lot of people were ignorant of the restrictions on that first night pubs reopened.
"We have a 30 person capacity at the Queen's Head and that includes the benches outside.
"We've had 50 to 60 people outside trying to get inside.
"We are two doormen trying to manage expectations on the door and what happens inside.
"I've had a group of ten trying to push passed me and one has spat at me, dangerous in itself with covid.
"If everyone behaved I wouldn't be needed as a bouncer but what people don't often take into consideration is that we are there to keep them safe.
"On the Saturday I was glassed I had a glass thrown in my face and nearly lost the sight in my left eye - all because a customer was told he was not allowed in because the pub was full and he was furious.
"It leaves you scared for your life.
"People aren't adhering to the rules; just not listening. They get angry instead and want to fight.
"They expect a regularly Saturday night. They may not have expected that sober, but they do after one, two or six pints down their neck depending on their tolerance and there's no longer any reasoning with them.
"The police are not being as helpful as I'd like. I don't know what their resource levels are and I'm not riding them down, but they only seem to react afterwards rather than intervene beforehand.
"I don't think they're enough of a presence."
He said the Queen's Head was doing what it could to protect door staff and customers and were now only allowing plastic glasses outside from 7pm.
He said they had joined forced with the Wetherspoons next door to manage opening and closing times in what is the busiest corner of the town centre for drinkers.
Inspector Heather Sutton, district commander for Newark and Sherwood Police, said: “Newark has a thriving night-time economy and our officers have been actively working with council licensing teams to ensure that pubs and restaurants are fully aware of the social distancing and hygiene requirements that remain in place.
“We have been providing an increased police presence since those businesses were able to re-open to keep an eye on any issues and we have a dedicated policing team who look after the night-time economy in Newark town centre.
“That team is responsible for undertaking high-visibility patrols and checking with licensed premises to ensure they are complying with their conditions.
“We must not forget that the virus is still out there and we would encourage anyone planning a night out to stick to the guidelines to ensure that the sacrifices made by the majority of people over recent months do not go to waste.”