Peterborough bar’s licence under threat over alleged covid breaches

On one occasion police received a report of around 100 people leaving Noir Bar and Club, in Lincoln Road, city centre, in the early hours during Lockdown.

Now, an application has been submitted to Peterborough City Council’s licensing department seeking a review of the licence at the premises, which opened in 2018, above Black Diamond Barbers ,

This application to review the premises licence for Noir Bar - calling for it to be revoked- is based on evidence which allegedly shows breaches of the Covid Regulations being committed by the licence holder Carlitos Balde.

It also calls for his personal licence to be revoked due to “deliberate, reckless or, at the very least, grossly negligent actions”.

The application submitted by Chief Constable Nick Dean of Cambridgeshire Constabulary outlines a number of alleged incidents, including police attending a “Pre-Lockdown Party” on November 4 when those present were provided with “Words of Advice” in relation to adhering to the Covid restrictions at the time.

It adds that in the early hours of November 22 police received reports of “approximately 100 persons leaving”, although CCTV showed 30-40 seen to leave carrying bottles of alcohol and not wearing face coverings, when the police arrived. This incident occurred during Covid Lockdown 2.0, when night clubs, pubs, bars and restaurants were ordered by regulations to close.

Balde later claimed he was in Portugal at the time of the incident,

The application states that in November at 10.34pm officers responded to reports of persons in the building.

Those present said it was a business meeting although CCTV showed a number of persons leaving at approximately 03:40am including a male believed to be Balde.

And on December 9, officers from the Neighbourhood Support Team raised concerns about the state of the wiring within the building and called for the fire service. The condition of the kitchen - with mouldy and out of date food - resulted in a request made to Peterborough City Council for Environmental Health to inspect the premise.

The report concludes: “The Covid related breaches are the result of deliberate, reckless or, at the very least, grossly negligent actions by the operator and associates.

There is genuine concern that due to the incidents at the premises, having caused a flagrant risk to Public Health, contributing to the spread of the Covid virus. Endangering the lives of those that attended the premise and the welfare and safety of the wider community of both adults and children.

“The licence holder is also a barber who has continued to operate after attending the incidents described, potentially infecting unwitting and innocent members of the public.

“The incidents raised in this report clearly shows the licence holder’s neglect of the Licensing Objectives, being deceitful in his responses to the Police and Council Officers, which also brings into question as to whether he can be considered a responsible person to be in control of the sale of alcohol and the premises is clearly not being run respectfully and lawfully in accordance with the conditions of the Premise Licence. Hence the necessity for the police to request that the Licensing Committee consider revocation of the Premise licence, as removing the Licence Holder Balde as the Designated Licence Holder would not go far enough, as there are understandable concerns that Balde would continue to control the business from behind the scenes.

“We also request that the committee consider the revocation of Balde’s Personal Licence.”

A police spokesman added: “On Monday (January 18) we submitted an application to Peterborough City Council to consider a licence review of Noir Bar and Club in Lincoln Road, Peterborough.

“The application was made following concerns regarding a number of alleged Covid regulation breaches.

“A formal decision will be made by the Council in due course.

“We continue to follow the four E approach, engaging, explaining and encouraging residents to follow Covid regulations. Enforcement remains a last resort but will be used where necessary in order to protect our communities.

“We remain at a serious stage of the pandemic and urge all residents and business owners to do the right thing and follow the rules to help reduce the spread of the virus.”