New licence threat for ex-footballer's bar

A Wolverhampton wine bar could lose its licence after it was caught again hosting late-night lock-ins.

Chill Wine Bar in High Street, Tettenhall, owned by former Wolverhampton Wanderers defender Mo Camara, will have its licence reviewed by the city council following further complaints over late noise and disturbance.

The wine bar had its licence suspended in 2024 for serving drinks after hours on a number of occasions and earlier this month, the council rejected a plea by the premises to open later.

Another complaint was made over 12 and 13 December after a large crowd gathered outside the venue which eventually had to be dispersed by police.

The latest council report said Mr Camara told environmental health officers that a the crowd made up of people from out of the area had become "uncontrollable" after they were asked to leave.

Mr Camara said he was later "subjected to violence and aggression outside the premises" which resulted in police attending.

Mr Camara had locked the entrance doors to his wine bar only for the windows to be smashed.

At a hearing on 9 December, Mr Camara was refused permission to open until 01:00 and play live and recorded music until 00:30.

The council's licensing and environmental health departments and West Midlands Police had objected to the application over concerns it would add to ongoing problems with late-night noise.

The council's environmental health officer told the licensing hearing the wine bar was being investigated over late-night noise.

CCTV footage from September showed the wine bar still open at 01:20 despite an agreed 00:30 closing time.

The council's licensing officer also called for the committee to revoke the licence for the "blatant disregard" of the licence ahead of January's full review hearing.

Mr Camara, who played 45 times for Wolves in the early 2000s, told the hearing he had experienced a "tough time" after the Covid-19 pandemic and had wanted to extend the opening hours as a result.

"I'm struggling to pay my bills," he told the hearing. "People think that because I'm an ex-footballer [I've got lots of money].

"I have to pay my staff, council tax is going up, business rates are going up and I'm struggling to keep a hold of my business."

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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