Pub’s future in doubt?

Published 11 Aug 2010 09:30

By Ewan McInnes

A CONTROVERSIAL boozer is still closed despite having its suspended licence lifted two weeks ago.

Bar 51, on Cross Arthurlie Street, was handed a six week licence suspension as punishment for a 50-man riot in and around the pub on February 28 this year.

The ban kicked in on June 17 and expired on July 29 with many punters expecting the pub to re-open immediately.

However, a question mark now hang over the future of the pub after Bar 51’s owners, the IONA Pub Partnership, confirmed that it still does not have an appropriate person to run it.

Gary Paterson, of IONA PP, told the Barrhead News that they took the decision to shut the pub before the suspension kicked in and over the last two months the lease holder responsible for the punishment has been removed.

IONA PP, which is part of Glasgow businessman Stefan King’s G1 group, told how the pub has been made available for lease on its website which describes Bar 51 as ‘well used by the locals’.

Mr Paterson said they are currently looking for the right candidate to run Bar 51.

He said: “We are looking for a suitable person to operate the pub.

“Bar 51 has had a lot of bad press, some of it rightly and some of it wrongly, but I wouldn’t want to comment further and add to the flames.

“We are looking for a suitable operator and until that time the pub will not be re-opened.”

East Renfrewshire Council’s licensing department confirmed the suspended licence of Bar 51 has been lifted and the tenant in place when the restriction was handed out is free to operate as before.

The suspension was handed out to penalise the lease holder for the riot which broke out in the boozer earlier this year.

A violent half-hour battle in and around the pub climaxed with one man allgedly being stabbed in the back in a row over money.

A swarm of cops descended on Bar 51 and made several arrests at the evening fracas in February.

Formerly Buds Bar, the pub was once one of the most popular pubs in the town but it has seen a steady decline in recent years.

One resident, who lives near Bar 51, said: “I doubt if that pub will be opened any time soon.

“It has had a few problems recently and whenever I pop my head in for a pint it is usually quiet.

He added: “I wasn’t there on the night of the riot but it was only a matter of time until it properly kicked off in there.”

The former tenant of Bar 51 was unavailable for comment.

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