Customers launch petition to reopen bar (From Oxford Mail)

Customers launch petition to reopen bar

5:00pm Thursday 20th September 2012 in News By Sam McGregor, covering Bicester. Call me on 01869 250197

G’s Wine Bar in Bicester

NIGHTCLUB customers have launched a petition calling for a review of how drink-related incidents are tackled after a bar lost its licence.

Last week Cherwell District Council ’s licensing sub committee revoked G’s licence after years of problems with drunkenness and disorder.

Police listed a string of incidents including fights, assaults and drug possession it had linked to the Deans Court club.

Its owner George Smith denies all the incidents were related to his premises.

Now more than 700 people have signed a petition protesting against the decision to revoke G’s licence.

It calls on Chief Constable Sara Thornton and Cherwell District Council to “Stop the Thames Valley Police campaign to close G’s Wine Bar in Bicester”.

The petition claims Mr Smith is being held to be “solely responsible for all the drink-related incidents in the town” and has called for an “even-handed approach to drink-related incidents” in Bicester.

Mr Smith has 21 days to appeal and can continue to trade until any appeal has been decided by magistrates.

He said he was “humbled” that customers had set up the petition.

He said: “A group of customers came up with the idea because they feel it’s so grossly unfair.

“Suddenly in the past 18 months I’m responsible for crime and disorder in the town. I don’t know what’s going on and what the agenda is. If I was running such an unruly house I would’t have been here for 25 years.”

Among those who signed the petition was Robert Wright, of Bicester, who said he believed Mr Smith was a scapegoat for the “entire town’s problems”.

He said: “G’s customers don’t usually get down there until around 12.30am, and most of them turn up totally trolleyed and then get nasty when they are not allowed in, so why not ask these people where they have been all night, to get into that kind of state?”

Josephine Percival, of Bicester, said: “Keep G’s open and don’t change a thing, it’s still the best place in town by far.”

Sam Smith, of Bicester, added: “By closing G’s down what are TVP going to achieve? Probably generate more work for themselves dealing with drunk people on the streets with no where to go.”

Both the police and council said it was inappropriate to comment until any appeal was decided.