Bar closed after licence lapse

Leigh Bar has been temporarily closed after a computer mishap led to its alcohol licence expiring.

Owner Richard Scott says he completed the renewal application late last year, but somehow saved it instead of hitting ‘send’.

As a result, the bar’s licence expired, meaning he’s had to begin the process again and apply for a completely new licence, even though he’s been trading for 10 years.

“It’s my fault, I stuffed up, but it is a bit annoying that the law says we can’t renew and have to start from scratch,” he said.

Licensing staff have said the application will take 25 working days to decide, so Scott is hoping he will be able to reopen the bar next month. He added that the only good thing to come out of the situation was the wave of community support he’d received since announcing the need to close.

“It’s been quite overwhelming,” he said.

The bar’s reopening date will be announced on its Facebook page, Scott added.