Pub loses licence following fire safety failings

Tuesday 28th March 2017

Following a premises license review conducted by East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service a Hastings pub has had its license revoked due to fire safety failings.
The Tub pub in Hastings has had its licence revoked, following an investigation by the East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service. Sussex Police had raised their concern about the pub on August 22 2016, leading to the visit by East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service. 
During their investigation, it was found that no fire risk assessment had been performed at the premises and that the automatic fire detection system and emergency lighting were not being maintained. 
Inadequate staff training and failure to maintain firefighting equipment were other causes of concern for the fire service. 
The pub was served with an informal notice which required a fire risk assessment to be performed, as well as a requirement to reinstate emergency lighting, as well as a fully operational fire detection system. 
A follow up performance inspection carried out on 23 December 2016, alongside Sussex Police, found that no fire risk assessment had been carried out and that emergency lighting and fire detection had not been maintained, as previously required. 
As a result, East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service submitted a Premises License review application on 19 January 2017. A full fire safety review was carried out on the premises. The findings led to the serving of a Priority Enforcement Notice, relating to non compliance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
At a Licensing Hearing on 16 March 2017, Mr Robert Falconer, licence holder for the premises, had the premises licence revoked. 
East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service's Fire Safety Hub Manager, James Portnell, Said: 'The safety of relevant persons in any premises is the primary concern of the fire and rescue service and the failure of the licence holder to ensure that a suitable fire risk assessment had been completed put people at risk'.
'A suitable fire risk assessment, which is a requirement under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, would have identified the lack of adequate fire precautions within the premises.' 
'Compliance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 would ensure public safety in relation to fire and we would urge other licence holders to recognise the importance of taking positive action to keep members of the public safe'.