Councillors call time on out of control bar

AN "OUT of control" pub on the Cowgate has been ordered to close for four months after police were called dozens of times within the space of a few months.

Violence erupted outside Bar Salsa, on Cowgatehead, when drinkers got involved in a mass street brawl in May.

It was one of 35 times that police were called to the pub since last September.

The city's licensing board has now forced it to shut for four months in response to the wave of trouble.

Councillors on the board warned that a tough approach will be taken against pubs that are badly run.

Councillor Alastair Paisley, one of the members of the city's licensing board, said: "There was no question that this could go unpunished.

"They sell the cheapest drink in town with only one door steward – it's out of control.

"Clearly, licence holders must recognise their responsibilities towards the public and must be in control of licensed premises, or the licensing board will act accordingly."

Police were called to the bar 35 times to deal with complaints about drunken customers, poor management of the venue, overcrowding and insufficient door staff.

During the discussion about the bar, police showed councillors CCTV footage of the May brawl, which led to a 50-year-old man being knocked unconscious after being struck in the face.

Two other men suffered minor injuries and all three men had to be taken to the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary following the incident.

Bar Salsa has earned mixed reviews online, with one reviewer hailing it as "a lively little bar", while another says: "I can't understand how it's still open, let alone allowed to trade in the most interesting and historic part of the Old Town."

A police spokesman said: "The suspension of this licence highlights the importance for licence-holders to work closely with police to address issues like this that may arise within licensed premises."

Councillor Paul Edie, the city's community safety leader, said: "To protect the public and our visitors it is very important that we monitor and control this type of antisocial behaviour in the city centre.

"The council uses its licensing powers to keep our city safe and protect our reputation as a great city to visit and live in."

The bar is owned by Bruce Taverns, the Edinburgh-based pub operator that last year bought popular city venue and nightclub Cabaret Voltaire.

Its other bars include The Globe, Whistlebinkies and The Royal Mile Tavern, as well as The Penny Black.

A city council spokeswoman said: "The licensing board suspended the licence in terms of section 39 of the Licensing Act because of the perceived breach of three of the five licensing objectives, relating to the prevention of crime and disorder, the securing of public safety and the preventing of public nuisance."

Nobody from Bruce Taverns was available to comment today.