A lively pub where punters were caught on CCTV pouring their own drinks has had its licence placed under review.

It comes after a spate of police reports and residents’ complaints about The Ship Inn in Court Lodge Road, Gillingham about crime and disorder, underage drinking and serving alcohol out of hours.

The hearing, set to be held on Tuesday, January 16, will include reports of anti-social behaviour and excessive music noise.

But Nathaniel Reagon-Welch, the owner of the pub, said he is making changes to the venue and has “been working closely with the relevant local authorities to discuss positive changes”.

It comes after several incidents over the last six months which has led police to say they “have no faith in the ability of the current management to effect change at the premises”.

The review was ordered following the assault of three officers who visited the pub at 9.45pm on Friday, November 17, during a wider night-time economy operation.

Five people were arrested on assault, drug and criminal damage charges. Some of the suspects are currently on bail with investigations still ongoing.

CCTV footage seized from the pub following the arrests suggested most of the people taken in by the police were regulars and included customers under the age of 18 – with underage sales of alcohol suspected, according to a police report.

It also showed customers were allowed behind the bar and allowed to lean over the bar to pour their own alcoholic drinks from the draft pumps.

Drug activity is also suspected. Examination of the CCTV is ongoing.

While this incident was a trigger for the licence review there were “several other areas of concern and premises failings” the police say.

In its application for the review of a premises licence, the police said: “This incident could have resulted in serious injury being caused to both the public and to the police and could have been very distressing to innocent members of the public enjoying their evening.”

One concerned resident, who wished to remain anonymous through fear of repercussions, told the police what it is like to live near the pub. Their comments are included in the police report.

“Constant fights, shouting, screaming, people parking across driveways and I have actually seen them parked on private drives and when asked to move have been subjected to verbal abuse and threatened with violence”, they said.

“We have to suffer glass in the road and in the front of houses, sick on drives and the road, and people urinating up against walls and even cars.

“I have to have my telly so loud to shut out the constant disturbances. I have to witness drug deals going on night after night.

“They have constant lock-ins where people are coming out at 2am and 3am.”

On Wednesday, October 4, licensing officers attended the premises following a complaint of drunken behaviour in the early hours of Thursday, September 28.

Two females were said to be drunk, lying on cars, being sick in the street.

It was also reported to the police that the pub was busy with customers drinking despite being past 2am.

Mr Reagon-Welch was not in attendance during the visit on October 4, but his wife Charlotte Robinson was. She denied any out-of-hours sales of booze.

But when licence officers checked the pub’s CCTV it showed alcohol was sold after hours and it was at this point that the owners admitted they had knowingly sold booze out of their licensed hours, according to the report.

In a CCTV review during the same visit, footage showed that on Sunday, September 24 customers were again in the pub after permitted licensing hours for alcohol.

‘Currently Kent Police have no faith in the ability of the current management to effect change at the premises’

The owners, who were previously warned in September 2020 by a letter regarding selling alcohol after permitted hours, told the police customers can often be loud and hard to control as they leave.

They also agreed to hand over the CCTV footage from both dates in September to officers but despite reminders from officers it was not provided, police said.

Then just after 9pm on Tuesday, September 26, the police found two customers were involved in a fight outside the pub – with one having injuries consistent with actual bodily harm.

CCTV shows the customer exiting the pub and exchanging words before punches are thrown.

Mr Reagon-Welch is seen splitting up the fight and allowing one customer to re-enter the premises while the other eventually leaves after remaining outside.

On Monday, August 21 at around 12.30pm police received a report of a customer in the toilets having a possible mental health episode and when they arrived they found they had a glass and was threatening self-harm.

The person was in a volatile state, was intoxicated and claimed to have taken cocaine.

Following these incidents, the police want Mr Reagon-Welch removed as the designated premises supervisor and replaced with someone who has no connection to the current management.

The police have also asked for “a suspension of the premises licence for a sufficient period to allow premises to reset and implement any required changes”, a reduction in operating hours, and limitations imposed on the number of music events and outdoor music events that can be held at the pub.

Improvements to the CCTV at the premises, the drug policy and staff training were all noted as possible conditions.

Other changes recommended include an incident log, door supervisors, a strict Challenge 25 policy to be enforced and one personal licence holder being on-site when alcohol is allowed to be sold.

Mr Reagon-Welch said ahead of the hearing that he and Charlotte, who have owned the pub since March 2016, have “already made a number of changes”.

“We have already added additional training for staff and renewed signage to support our zero-tolerance approach to drugs”, he said.

“As the responsible operators of Gillingham’s premiere venue for live music, we have been working closely with the relevant local authorities to discuss positive changes we can effect at The Ship to ensure the ongoing safety and enjoyment of our customers and staff.

“We are committed to the future of The Ship and will continue to liaise closely with local residents and the authorities now and in the future.”