Pub is shut down after drugs and noise complaints

A Suffolk pub has had its licence revoked after complaints about drugs and noise were made to the police.

The Carousel, in High Street, Lowestoft, was taken over in December 2023 but since then Suffolk Police said it had received several reports regarding assaults, drugs offences and noise disturbances.

East Suffolk Council's licensing committee has now revoked the licence.

The licence holder did not attend the meeting, but councillors heard she had ignored police warnings and officers had had difficulty with another premises she managed elsewhere.

Police representatives told the meeting there had been evidence of the pub being used for the supply of drugs, and the venue had been used outside licensed hours.

On one occasion, police had attended the pub at 03:00 GMT to find a number of people there, some of whom appeared to be hiding. Loud music had been playing.

The meeting was told the licence-holder claimed those present were helping with the cleaning – something the police said was not the case.

The police also said there was a serious assault at the pub shortly after the licence-holder took over, and she had ignored warning letters from the police.

Attempts had been made to contact her about the meeting and the committee went ahead in her absence, satisfied she was aware of it.

The committee said it had decided to revoke the licence as the holder was "incapable of complying" with the conditions.

"The sub-committee considers that she has had ample opportunity to engage but has failed to do so," it said.

Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.