Lincolnshire Police object to the appointment of a new manager at The Grapes pub, citing ongoing issues with management and safety.
Sleaford: So, the police are not too happy about a new manager at The Grapes pub. They think it’s one of the most troublesome spots in Lincolnshire. The pub lost its license last November because of fights, underage drinking, and just a lot of rowdy behavior.
Now, the owners, EDS Sleaford, want to bring in Paul Dickinson as the new manager. But the police are saying, “Hold on a minute!” They believe that just changing the manager’s name won’t fix the problems.
EDS Sleaford claims they’ve made all the necessary improvements, but the police aren’t buying it. They pointed out that Dickinson doesn’t have much experience running a pub, which raises some red flags.
The police report describes The Grapes as a “high-risk” place with a long history of issues. They’ve got more info to share at the licensing hearing set for January 13, and they’re ready to back up their concerns.
In the past, the police said this pub was the source of the most trouble in the area, with fights and crowds spilling out onto the streets. The committee that reviewed the pub’s management said they had “no confidence” in the owners to follow the rules.
Lucy Darmon, who was the supervisor since 2018, has stepped down. She and Dickinson had previously expressed disappointment over the license review but insisted they were open to making improvements.
They argued that The Grapes is a key part of Sleaford’s nightlife and that without it, people might head to busier places like Lincoln. The local bar scene has been struggling, and they want to keep folks coming to their town.
It’ll be interesting to see how this all plays out, especially with the hearing coming up. The LDRS has tried to reach out to EDS Sleaford and Dickinson for more comments, but we’ll have to wait and see what happens next.
