The Statutory Licensing Sub-Committee is scheduled to convene to consider an application for the review of a premises licence for Quinns Inn in Spennymoor. The review was triggered by an application from Durham Constabulary, citing concerns about serious crime and disorder. Councillors will need to determine what steps, if any, are appropriate to take with the licence to promote the licensing objectives¹.

Review of Premises Licence: Quinns Inn

The primary item for discussion is an application by Durham Constabulary to review the premises licence for Quinns Inn, located at 66 High Street, Spennymoor. The application was submitted on 24 November 2025, and is based on concerns about the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, and the protection of children from harm.

The report pack includes a summary of events leading to the review application. On 24 November 2025, the council received an application from Durham Constabulary for an urgent review of the premises, along with a certificate stating that the premises were associated with serious crime and/or serious disorder. On 26 November 2025, the Licensing Statutory Sub-Committee met and decided to remove Mrs Susan Ellis as the designated premises supervisor (DPS) and suspend the premises licence, pending a full review. On 4 December 2025, Mr Duncan Craig, Barrister at St Philips Chambers, representing the licence holder, made representations against the interim steps. On 8 December 2025, the Licensing Statutory Sub-Committee met again and decided to maintain the interim steps.

According to the report pack, Durham Constabulary provided additional information on 6 December 2025, and Mr Duncan Craig provided information in support of the premises licence on 7 December 2025. During the consultation period, the council received 13 representations in support of the premises licence holder. The Home Office and Planning Authority responded, stating they had no representations to make.

The sub-committee will be asked to consider representations from the following parties:

• Sergeant Caroline Dickenson, Durham Constabulary (Applicant)
• Mr Duncan Craig, Barrister, St Philips Chambers (premises licence holder's representative)
• Mrs Susan Ellis (Premises Licence Holder)
• Mr Douglas Bones (Other person)
• Guner Sevim (Other person)
• Mr Mark Solan (Other person)
• Mr Kevin Whitehead (Other person)
• Ms Leanne Milner (Other person)
• Ms Isabelle Guy (Other person)
• Mr Nigel Dargue (Other person)
• Mr Scott Mackenzie (Other person)
• Mr Paul Coombes (Other person)
• Mr Kenneth Green (Other person)
• Town Councillor Ian Geldard (Other person)
• Mr Ben Duncan (Other person)
• Mr Steven Jones (Other person)

The report pack outlines the options available to the sub-committee, which include:

• Taking no further action
• Modifying or adding conditions to the licence
• Excluding a licensable activity from the licence
• Removing the Designated Premises Supervisor
• Suspending the licence for a period (not exceeding three months)
• Revoking the licence

Background Information

The report pack includes background information on the premises licence, including the permitted hours for the sale of alcohol and regulated entertainment. The Quinns Inn premises licence currently permits the sale of alcohol for consumption on the premises and regulated entertainment as detailed in the table below:

The report pack also includes copies of the original premises licence, the review application from Durham Constabulary, additional information from Durham Constabulary, information from the premises licence holder's Barrister, and representations in support of the licence holder.

Durham Constabulary's Application

The application for review from Durham Constabulary states that on 22 November 2025, police were called to Quinns Inn after ambulance staff reported a male being unconscious with a cut to the eyebrow. The application claims that door staff stated there had not been an incident at the pub and that something may have happened away from the venue. The injured male was later reported to have life-threatening injuries and was taken to hospital for emergency surgery on his brain. According to the application, CCTV footage shows an altercation inside the pub, with the victim being punched and kicked while on the ground. The application states that door staff were present while this assault was taking place and that a member of staff mopped up blood from the floor. The application claims that the venue maintained the stance that it hadn't happened at the venue and took to social media to state it was nothing to do with the venue. The application also states that a member of door staff who witnessed the fight has refused to provide a statement. Durham Constabulary's application states:

Due to the seriousness of the incident reported at the weekend and the contributary factors around the running and management at the premises. There is significant risk to Public Safety and the application for the review of a premises licence under section 53A of the licencing Act 2003 is justified whereby Durham Constabulary will be requesting consideration is made for immediate suspension of the license pending a full review.

Information from the Premises Licence Holder

The report pack includes a statement from Mrs Susan Ellis, the licence holder, in which she states that she has been the landlady of Quinns Inn for 25 years and that the pub is her life. She states that it is extremely rare for her to be away from the pub during trading hours, but that she had received upsetting news and developed a migraine on the night in question. Mrs Ellis states that as soon as she became aware of what had occurred, she took immediate steps, including communicating with the police, ensuring all CCTV was preserved and passed on, reviewing the incident thoroughly with staff, and updating and strengthening policies and procedures. The report pack also includes witness statements and exhibits in relation to Mrs Ellis' statement, as well as a number of policies. Mr Duncan Craig has proposed a number of conditions as an interim steps as follows:

• The venue will formulate a standard operating risk assessment for each night of the week to include door staff numbers and deployment plan. The venue will also conduct risk assessments for all promoted events.
• The numbers of door staff will be risk assessed by the premises. This risk assessment will be made available to any of the responsible authorities immediately on request.
• Door staff will be equipped with bodycam. Bodycam footage will be retained for a minimum of 28 days and made available to Durham Constabulary on request.
• The premises will operate a dispersal policy. This policy will be made available to any of the responsible authorities on request.
• All staff will be trained in (crime) scene management. This training will be documented and signed by the trainer and trainee. These training records to be made immediately available to any of the responsible authorities on request.
• The premises will operate a vulnerability policy which will be made available to any of the responsible authorities on request. As part of this policy the premises will have a safe space for vulnerable people.
• The premises will operate a drugs policy. This policy will be framed to operate a zero tolerance policy to illegal drugs use by customers or staff. Staff shall perform regular checks of the toilets and premises to prevent illicit drug use. This policy will be made available to any of the responsible authorities on request.
• An incident log shall be kept at the premises and made available on request to an authorised officer of the Durham County Council or the Police.
• In the event that crime or serious disorder is, or appears to have been, committed on the premises, the management will immediately ensure that the police and, where appropriate, the Ambulance Service, are called immediately.
• The licence holder will ensure that all staff are trained on relevant matters, including the conditions of the premises licence, the premises' policies, crime scene preservation, age restricted products and the operation of the CCTV system and how to deal with visits from authorised officers.
• There will be a trained first aider on duty whenever licensable activities are carried on from the premises.

Representations in Support of the Premises Licence Holder

The report pack includes 16 representations in support of the premises licence holder, from local residents, business owners, and community figures. The representations praise the Quinns Inn for being a well-managed, welcoming, and responsible establishment that plays a valuable role in the community.

Legal Implications

The report pack includes legal advice, citing cases such as Daniel Thwaites Plc v Wirral Borough Magistrates' Court and The Queen on the Application of Bristol Council v Bristol Magistrates' Court, which state that licensing authorities should only impose conditions which are necessary and proportionate for the promotion of licensing objectives².