Tom Ponton free to reopen bar after winning appeal

FORMER councillor Tom Ponton has won an appeal against a decision to close a bar he co-owns for four months.

The Sports Bar on Portland Place, which is owned by the former Liberal Democrat councillor and his family, was shut down by licensing chiefs last month after claims that staff had held a lock-in.

However, the bar has now won an appeal after the member of staff accused of serving drink after hours was cleared in court.

It is understood that the Ponton family may have had to close the pub permanently if the four-month suspension of their licence went ahead, but it is now set to open its doors again on Monday.

Mr Ponton said the reopening would also save three jobs, as well as the future of the darts, domino and pool teams that are based in the pub. Three charity events that were due to be staged there will also now be able to go ahead too.

However, it is thought that the sheriff may refer his decision back to the licensing board, who could still opt to impose a shorter ban.

Mr Ponton said: "I am thankful to the sheriff for reinstating our licence and I am glad for the good members of staff and loyal customers that we have.

"This allows us to continue doing the charity work our staff enjoy so much."

He added: "I hope this vindicates us. I think it does but it will be up to the wisdom of the licensing board to determine what they think."

At last month's meeting of the licensing board, Inspector Gordon Hunter, from Lothian and Borders Police's licensing department, said licensing officers had visited the bar at 1:50am on October 11 last year following a noise complaint.

He said Mark Hartley had identified himself as being in charge of the bar, and officers reported that they received a "confrontational" response when attending the scene and had to call for additional assistance.

Mr Hartley was charged with serving alcohol after hours and perverting the court of justice by pouring an unspecified drink down the sink.

However, he was cleared of all charges at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Wednesday.

An appeal to the Sheriff Principal by the Ponton family against the suspension of the licence was then successful on Thursday, with it being judged that four months was too excessive.

Licensing sources said that some councillors had demanded that an even bigger suspension than four months should be handed to the bar.

The city council confirmed that the bar is free to open again on Monday following the decision by the Sheriff Principal but licensing chiefs were not willing to discuss the specifics of the case.

A council spokesman said: "This was a matter for the Sheriff Principal to determine."