COUNCIL chiefs have temporarily suspended the premises licence for a town centre pub two days after a police raid.

Porters Ale House on Buttermarket Street was subject to a summary review at the Town Hall on Friday after concerns were raised by police over ‘serious disorder’.

The media was prevented from attending the hearing after a decision was made to hold the review in private due to an ongoing police investigation.

But after the hearing, a police spokesman said: “Following an expedited review hearing the licence was suspended by the licensing authority.

“This is a view that was not challenged by the premises licence holder.

“It will remain suspended until April 9 when there will be a full hearing unless the premises licence holder makes any representation to amend the interim step and they can only do that if there is a material change in the situation."

This means the pub cannot carry out any licensable activity during this period which includes the sale of alcohol. 

The hearing was held under Section 53A of the Licensing Act 2003.

This follows a raid on the town centre pub on Wednesday.

At around 10.50am police executed a drugs warrant where three men and a 29-year-old woman were arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply a controlled drug of class A.

The three men, aged 35, 50 and 57, and the woman have all since been released under investigation.

A quantity of illicit substances – believed to be class A drugs – were seized following a search of the pub.