A pub that was stripped of its licence for hosting a lockdown party like a 'prohibition speakeasy' has been allowed to reopen despite neighbours’ fears over noise and anti-social behaviour.

The Billy Goat pub in Mossley lost its premises licence – and consequently its legal ability to sell alcohol – following a hearing of the council’s licensing panel in July last summer.

It came after the Stamford Street pub opened for a private event for around 30 people on the day that Boris Johnson ordered pubs close to try and suppress Covid-19.

The pub, which is now under new management, has now been given a new licence by Tameside’s licensing panel.

The application came from Matthew Johnson, the son of the freeholder of the premises who put forward David Fisher as the proposed designated premises supervisor (DPS).

A previous application to reopen the pub submitted by Mr Fisher was rejected by the panel in April this year.

After conversations with licensing officers and Greater Manchester Police, strict conditions have been attached to the new licence, including banning the former premises licence holder Victor Bowers and the former DPS Kathleen O’Neill from entering the premises.

Alcohol and late night refreshment can be sold from noon until midnight under the terms of the licence, with live music cutting off at 11.30pm.

However, residents speaking anonymously at a hearing on Tuesday said they still had concerns about the impact of the pub on their lives once it reopened.

One woman told members they were caught in a ‘terrible web’.

“I truly believe that the profits of a few people should never override the health and wellbeing of so many local residents who permanently have no option but to put up with the ordeals that this pub has brought,” she said.

“Anti-social behaviour, unlawful lock-ins that we have witnessed firsthand. This year since it’s closed, it’s been literally a breath of fresh air.

“It’s immeasurable how much noise, public disorder and nuisance, loud aggressive shouting and screaming has truly impacted our lives.

“Patrons have hammered intimidatingly on my door. Sitting in a darkened stairwell waiting for the street to go quiet is not a pleasant place to be.

“Sadly I don’t think it’s right that a pub of this kind which has the magnitude to effect so many people should be allowed to be given a licence at this time.”

She added that in recent weeks while the pub had been closed they had witnessed incidents at the pub on a ‘routine’ basis.

“One of the things that has been seen as anti-social behaviour recently, a man was seen going outside for a cigarette and then urinating on the grass verge which is a public pathway,” she said.

“I don’t want my children seeing somebody unzip their pants and showing privates in a public space and obviously these are things of concern.”

Mr Fisher said: “I do understand your concerns and it’s very concerning for us and it will be looked into.

“In regards to when the premises opens, there will be someone on the premises. There will be hourly perimeter checks to monitor noise and public nuisance checks.

“Under previous poor management it was unacceptable for that to happen. I don’t want to open this pub for complaints to come back at me, I want this pub to be successful and help the whole area.”

Mr Johnson said they wanted the pub to be open on Mondays and Tuesdays in case there were events connected with the local church, such as wakes, which would be hosted at the venue.

He told the meeting they wanted an ‘equal opportunity’ to make the business a success as pubs were ‘fighting for trade’ amid the pandemic.

“We are willing to work with everybody, with the council, the police and the residents,” Mr Johnson said.

“We want to make sure that everyone is happy with what’s going on, and we want it to be a hub for everybody.

“We are going to work with the noise levels, this is purely from mismanagement in the past.”

Councillor Dolores Lewis, chair of the licensing panel, told the meeting they were adding another condition which prohibited smoking or drinking in the front of the building.

“There has been a serious impact on local residents arising form poor management of the premises over a number of years,” she said.

“The applicant has presented details of how the premises intends to operate with the view to having a family-run pub.

“The panel feel that the applicant cannot be held accountable for actions and misdemeanours of the previous premises licence holders and designated premises supervisors.”

She added that ‘on balance’ the panel had concluded the licence should be granted.

Other conditions attached to the permission see the beer garden at the rear limited to a smoking area from 9pm onwards, staff undertaking mandatory training on alchohol sales and tackling drugs, and a personal licence holder being on the premises at all times.

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