'Court' short? Pub told to smarten up its loos

Wednesday 22 August 2018

A Jersey pub that’s been closed since its manager died has been allowed to reopen by the Royal Court – but only if it smartens up its toilets.

Deputy Bailiff Tim Le Cocq QC made the “sanitary accommodation” improvement order during a Licensing Assembly sitting on Monday.

The court was told that Mr Hamilton, the former manager of the Old England at Cheapside, had been told to upgrade the toilets when he took over the licence back in 2007.

However, in the 11 years that followed, nothing ever got done.

Pictured: The Old England, which is owned by the Liberation Group, is located in the Cheapside area of St. Helier. (Google Maps)

When Mr Hamilton passed away, the pub closed. As it was without a licensee, the Liberation Group, who own the pub, had to go to the Royal Court to take the pub back and get a new one.

Following Monday’s hearing, the pub will now be able to reopen, but the Royal Court made the toilet upgrade a stipulation, and says it wants an update in six months’ time.

The Liberation Group says it hopes to re-open the pub by the end of the week. However, it added that the toilet upgrade could take up to three months to allow for plans to be drawn up and consultations with various bodies including the Fire Service to be undertaken.