THE first pub in East Lancashire to be shut for breaching coronavirus rules will remain shut for the foreseeable future.

The company which owns the The Duke of Wellington in Blackburn Road, Great Harwood, has given up the alcohol licence for the premises.

This means the pub, ordered to shut for breaching Covid-19 guidelines on Friday August 14, remains closed until a new licence is applied for and granted.

The Duke of Wellington was up for review by Hyndburn Council’s licensing committee yesterday at which the police had applied for the licence to be revoked over alleged drug dealing concerns.

The hearing was cancelled when owners, Burnley-based Baron and Douglas, voluntarily relinquished the alcohol licence.

The police, who had objected to the licence citing drug dealing and drug taking on the premises, then withdrew their application.

Sgt Gary Hennighan, the force’s licensing officer for East Lancashire, said: “The objections were withdrawn after the owner voluntarily gave up the licence before the hearing. It would appear they decided our overwhelming evidence meant it would have been revoked.This means that the pub remains shut until a new licence application is approved.”

John Baron, of Baron and Douglas, said: “We have had positive discussions with the police on this matter with neither party wishing to engage in public mudslinging.

“As we are primarily a property investment company we have made the decision not to be premises licence holders in future. We will look for our pub tenants to deal with this aspect of the licensing laws.”

Sgt Hennighan added: “There have been problems with these premises for some years. This means there will be a clean break before the pub reopens.”

Patrick Brizio, manager of the Duke of Wellington, was not available for comment.