The Bulldog saved from closure but told to shut early for 28 days following licensing review

The Bulldog in St James’s Street has been ordered to stop serving at midnight and close at 1am for 28 days which the authorities say will “act as a deterrent and break a link with late night activities”.

After the 28 day period is up from Sunday to Thursday the venue must cease at midnight with a closing time of 1am and on Friday and Saturday all licensable activities to cease at 2am with a closing time of 3am.

Sussex Police were originally calling for the bar to have its licence revoked, but at a meeting on Monday they decided a one month closure may be more appropriate.

Following the meeting the panel retired to make a decision which was revealed yesterday – going against the police’s recommendation.

The report read “we do recognise the licence holder has taken a number of steps recently to improve the situation” but went said they had restricted their operating hours “in light of serious incidents which have occurred and the challenges posed by the late trading hours”.

Police released to The Argus a dossier detailing 48 incidents at the pub since January 2014 including underage drinking, drug use, fights, and sexual assaults.

Since the threat of closure regulars campaigned to keep the popular pub open and management addressed a number of the police’s issues.

The Bulldog will now have to offer a “challenge 25” policy and have signs advertising the policy.

Staff members will also have to be trained in age restricted sales and how to refuse alcohol sales to drunks – with all training records having to be made available to the police.

The premises will also become a member of the Brighton Crime Reduction partnership and there will a minimum of two bouncers on the door from 10pm until close.

CCTV will have to be installed in the toilet areas, a breathalyser system will be introduced on the door, all drinks will be served in plastic cups, and outside smoking is restricted to a maximum of six people at any one.