A sports bar in Minehead has been granted a new premises licence to extend its opening hours despite objections from local police, who raised concerns about the owner’s conduct and a history of complaints against the venue.
The Banckers Draught, operated by Robert Hamblin within the former Royal British Legion on Bancks Street, is known locally as “Minehead’s go-to darts pub” and is popular for broadcasting a variety of sporting events.
In May, Mr Hamblin applied to vary the existing licence to allow alcohol sales until 2am on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, with a midnight closing time on other days. This application followed discussions and negotiations with Avon and Somerset Constabulary, which had previously served Mr Hamblin a cease and desist letter in February, instructing him not to contact a licensing team member further.
READ MORE: Oasis Glastonbury 2027 rumours intensify following world tour announcement
READ MORE: Johann van Graan hails ‘flying start’ of Bath Rugby’s new attack coach Mike Prendergast
The council’s licensing sub-committee for West Somerset convened in Taunton on 4 September to consider the application. Speaking via Microsoft Teams, Mr Hamblin explained that early opening hours aligned with the local ‘adult weekender’ events at Butlin’s were a priority, and he expressed willingness to accept a midnight closing time over the weekend and a 2am closing on Thursdays through Saturdays, along with conditions on live music as suggested by the police.
However, police submitted evidence documenting over 20 separate complaints since January, including reports of patrons shouting outside the venue, multiple incidents of men urinating in public (one involving a motorcycle owned by a nearby resident), excessively loud music sometimes audible with doors open, and an allegation of staff trespassing and photographing neighbours' belongings.
Mr Hamblin acknowledged the complaints but noted they were predominantly raised by previous neighbours no longer residing nearby. He urged the committee to consider the context and current relevance, adding that several issues occurred when the venue was closed and that new neighbours have since moved in.
Police Sergeant Lauren Whitby stated that while her team was open to “reasonable extensions” of opening hours, Mr Hamblin had not engaged constructively with police prior to submitting the application, nor demonstrated sufficient measures to mitigate public risk. The police raised concerns about the premises’ proximity to residential properties and submitted video evidence supporting their complaints.
Sergeant Whitby also reported that Mr Hamblin had repeatedly hindered police licensing officers’ access to the premises, leading to the issuance of a cease and desist letter and, ultimately, his arrest following continued non-compliance. Additionally, she alleged that Mr Hamblin arranged for a 17-year-old to attempt to purchase alcohol at a different venue, an allegation strongly denied by Mr Hamblin, who said the banning order was issued by a staff member who felt victimised.
After a confidential session, the licensing sub-committee voted to approve the licence variation. Councillor Simon Carswell, chairing the meeting, remarked on the careful consideration given and emphasised the expectation that the premises and responsible authorities closely monitor operations. He also encouraged all involved parties to collaborate more effectively moving forward.
Following the decision, Mr Hamblin expressed his satisfaction on the business’s official Facebook page, stating: “New times are coming! After a lot of bogus challenges, we managed to prove we are far, far more than capable to open until 2am. We will soon be serving alcohol from 9am ‘til midnight from Sunday to Wednesday and from 9am to 2am from Thursday to Saturday. A massive thank you to the council who clearly saw the truth.”