Brighton Pub Shut Down Over Safety Fears After Violent Brawl
Black Horse Faces 28-Day Closure
The Black Horse pub on Church Street, Brighton, has been slapped with a 28-day shutdown. Sussex Police raised serious doubts about the venue sticking to its licence terms, prompting a panel review.
Police Raise Alarm After Violent Incidents
Officers demanded the licence review after the pub failed to alert police about a vicious fight on January 12. A man was hospitalised with serious injuries, but the pub kept quiet. This wasn’t the first time either — another disorder on December 28 went unreported despite repeated high drug readings over the past year.
Licensing Panel Takes Serious Action
Brighton and Hove City Council’s Licensing Panel met on January 19 and voted to suspend the pub’s licence while the investigation continues. A final decision on the future of The Black Horse is expected after a full review.
Police Send Strong Warning
“Licensed premises have a duty to ensure the safety of their customers and the general public,” said Detective Superintendent Rachel Carr. “Failure to meet these obligations will be taken very seriously by the police and our partners.”
“We are committed to working with premises to help them meet their licensing objectives, but repeated failures will not be tolerated and will be dealt with accordingly.”
“I hope Brighton and Hove’s Licensing Panel’s decision sends a clear message to licence holders that we and our partners will not hesitate to take positive action to protect our communities.”
