East Lothian Courier | News | Hotel sale in limbo?

Thursday, 20th November, 2008

Published: Thursday, 3rd July, 2008 08:05

Hotel sale in limbo?

THE future of the Toll Bridge Hotel has been plunged into doubt following the veto of an application for the permanent transfer of the pub’s licence from controversial owner Billy Lamb to his wife Helen.

In January, Mr Lamb, of Market Street, Haddington, failed to get his drinks licence renewed after reports of “irresponsible and aggressive” behaviour towards police investigating a series of incidents at the pub.

In May 2006 he was fined £400 at Haddington Sheriff Court for holding a karaoke night outwith the designated function room.

Mr Lamb, 57, is expected to stand trial at Haddington Sheriff Court later this year on a charge of recklessly discharging an air weapon in Market Street.

Inspector Sean Scott told last week’s meeting of the licensing board that Lothian and Borders Police was strongly opposed to the transfer application for the Bridge Street premises.

“When Mr Lamb appeared before the board in January it was fairly obvious that he was not a fit and proper person to hold a drinks licence,” he said.

“Even if the licence were transferred to Mrs Lamb, Mr Lamb would continue to have a say in the running of the premises and there would continue to be a risk of bad management.

“Since the time of his last hearing before the licensing board, Mr Lamb has again been charged and convicted of a criminal offence, that of being under the influence of alcohol. I don’t have the details to hand, but he appeared at Haddington Sheriff Court on June 16 this year and was disqualified from driving for two years.

“He will be returning to court later this year, having been charged with maliciously discharging an air weapon in a public place.

“It is our opinion that this application has been submitted merely to avoid the licence being lost.

“Mrs Lamb was not the licensee when the previous incidents occurred, but she was present on the premises at that time and she has been complicit in trying to dupe the police over this licence.”

Mrs Lamb’s solicitor, Alan White, revealed that the Toll Bridge Hotel had been put up for sale and an offer to purchase the premises had been received on June 23 from an Adam Gray in Glasgow.

“Mr Gray was approached to see if he was interested. He has offered a date of entry within six weeks. However, a condition of purchase is that the licence is transferred,” he added.

“From a pragmatic approach I would ask the board to grant this application in order for us to complete the sale negotiations.”

Licensing board chairman, Councillor David Berry, said: “We have evidence from the police that Mr Lamb continues to be someone I would not want anywhere near licensed premises. This application bothers me because the Lamb family runs the place and he is always around. That is unacceptable to me.

“We made a very serious judgement in January that he was not a fit and proper person to run a licensed premises. I believe the police argument that he would be a material beneficiary if we were to grant this transfer of licence.

“I don’t believe this board should take a speculative offer to buy the pub as part of our considerations. This offer has not been confirmed legally – it could be withdrawn tomorrow.”

After a brief deliberation in private, board members unanimously rejected the application.

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