A Manchester pub which was shut down earlier this year after a huge brawl 'involving a machete and a gun' has faced another blow in its bid to reopen. Floyd Dodoo, who grew up on the Monsall estate where the Queens Hotel is located, has been told he cannot take over the pub if it get its licence back.
Police said the local publican who already manages two pubs in the area would be spreading himself too thin if he took over the premises in Sedgeford Road. It comes as the current owners of the pub wait for their appeal of Manchester council's decision to revoke their licence earlier this year to be heard in court.
The Vine pub on Glendower Drive also had its licence temporarily suspended following the incident on March 12 - which was thought to be connected to organised crime groups, according to GMP - but has since been reopened.
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Speaking at a town hall hearing on Friday (June 9), Mr Dodoo questioned why other pubs in the area who serve the same customers have not suffered a similar fate as the Queens Hotel. And he told councillors that if the pub which he has visited all his life is allowed to reopen, he would be best placed to run it.
He said: "If there's anyone who can run that pub, I'm the man. I'm the one. If I can't, then no one can do it."
Mr Dodoo told the licensing sub-committee that he grew up in Monsall, knows 'virtually everyone there' and if he ends up running the pub which his family frequents, he would move into his mother's home which is '10 seconds' away. He told the panel he has 25 years of experience in the night-time economy.
However, PC Alan Isherwood said that GMP is concerned Mr Dodoo would be spreading himself 'too thin' if he takes over this pub too. Mr Dodoo said there have been hardly any issues at The Mowers Arms in Moston Lane and the Charlestown pub in Charlestown Road since he has been managing them.
He acknowledged that both premises are also in 'challenging' areas, but argued that there is no serious crime or gang issue at the Queens Hotel. Nevertheless, PC Isherwood described the pub as 'extremely difficult'.
He said: "If this premises does ever get back open, we want someone whose sole focus is that pub."
The licensing panel refused the application to transfer the premises licence. The revocation of the licence in April will remain in force pending the outcome of an appeal by the premises for which a hearing date in court is yet to be set.
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