Newark bar owner working hard to confine poor reputation to the past

A bar owner says he is working hard to confine his venue’s poor reputation to the past and has asked to be given a chance.

Richard Belam, owner of the White Hind on Cartergate, in Newark, says a reputation for trouble is no longer deserved and that the granting of a late licence proves it.

He says the venue now has one of the most stringent door policies around and that any disagreements are outside rather than inside the venue, when people are either too drunk to be allowed in or their ejection from elsewhere has been relayed to his door staff.

Mr Belam said that all of his staff, whether on the door or behind the bar, have undergone all training schemes provided and are adept at handling people — no matter their state or vulnerability, in a firm yet compassionate way and, wherever possible, a friendly one.

The White Hind successfully applied for a late licence that permits a 3.30am closing on Fridays and Saturdays.

However, the application wasn’t without concern with members of the town council passing comment on rowdy behaviour outside and concern for neighbours.

Mr Belam said that he hoped those concerns had now proved to be unfounded and that he had showed the White Hind was well-managed.

He drew attention to what he believes to be a concerning trend for the use of cocaine among many late-night revellers and, with the air of invincibility mixing the Class A drug can have, particularly mixed with alcohol, asked the police to make available swab tests and sniffer dogs to assist landlords and doormen in detecting it.

Mr Belam said: “Newark Town Council had no evidence to back up those concerns. We work closely with the police and with licensing. I was co-chairman of Pubwatch.

“We have one of the strictest door policies around.

“If we have issues, 90% of them are for refused entry.

“Our bad reputation is historic and isn’t where we are today. It dates back to the pub being The Zoo, Pretty Windows, whatever you want to call it.

“It just takes time to put a reputation behind you but we are doing everything we can to make that reality.

“We didn’t go blindly into the late licensing hours, we had a five-week trial because I want to make sure we could make it work and make it work safely.

“Covid hasn’t been an easy time for this industry and I needed to find a way of bringing the money in. Newark has to have a vibrant night-time economy otherwise it’s dead after dark and there is nothing to keep people here.

“Newark’s anti-social behaviour is not in the main anything to do with its pubs. It can be wild on the streets with the kids in the market place. Odeon Cinema has to have a security guard, and then there are the street drinkers.

“And coke use is rife.”