Popular live venue could lose music licence
The Polar Bear in Spring Bank, Hull, has been a public house since 1874 and is renowned for staging live bands.
But landlord Carl Dickinson is being taken to court by Hull City Council's environmental health team for four charges of breaching the conditions of its music licence by being too loud.
If found guilty, Mr Dickinson, 30, could be fined £5,000 per offence, plus costs.
The Polar Bear could also lose its music licence, meaning the pub could no longer host live bands.
Mr Dickinson said: "That would effectively be the end of the pub because 70 per cent of our takings are on Friday and Saturday nights, when bands are on."
He said he objects to the charges because The Polar Bear is surrounded by other pubs and hotels, including the Old Zoological and the Marlborough Hotel.
The charges refer to four incidents that allegedly occurred on Friday or Saturday evenings between 10.30pm and 11pm in August and September last year.
However, Mr Dickinson and partner Craig Wood claim they have not been told the exact nature of the allegations, or who they were made by, ahead of the hearing at Hull Magistrates' Court on Monday, December 8.
Mr Wood, 28, said: "In the first year after the smoking ban, people were going outside and propping the doors open while they were having a cigarette.
"It's also an old building, so the windows didn't shut properly."
A council spokeswoman confirmed the case would be heard at Hull Magistrates' Court on December 8, but said the authority was unable to comment on the case, or the possible sanctions Mr Dickinson would face if he is found guilty next month.
A petition for people to support the pub has now been launched and already has more than 700 signatures.
Manager Craig Wood says the Polar Bear pub in Spring Bank, city centre, could lose its music licence for allegedly breaching its conditions
