'Have we been victims of our own success? Yes' - New Town bar owner given written warning over complaints about takeaway beer drinkers gathering outside

A New Town bar owner has been issued with a written warning after residents complained about people buying takeaway beers then gathering outside and leaving a mess.

Councillors on the licensing board discussed the matter at a premises licence review today following an application by Police Scotland concerning the St Vincent Bar.

Police sergeant Marc Copland said they had received “several complaints” from residents and that on one occasion in November, officers recorded around 60 people gathering at the steps of the nearby St Stephen’s Centre and drinking from cups - despite dispersing a crowd of 40 at the same spot earlier that evening.

Mr Copland told councillors the manner in which drinks were being sold in takeaway pint cups was a “major contributing factor” in people being congregating outside the premises instead of going home.

The owners of the St Vincent Bar have been issued with a written warning. Pic: Google

But bar owner Chris Grierson said that, since then, they have employed a member of staff to stand outside and manage the queue and have put up around 20 posters on surrounding lamp posts and railings encouraging people to move on.

He also stressed their takeaway beers are sold in environmentally friendly cups with sealed lids to encourage customers to take them away.

Mr Grierson said: “I think we have much better operation in this regard than we have seen anywhere else. It’s really frustrating.

“We have spent a lot of money and time making the place look fantastic. It’s a labour of love for us but have we been victims of our own success? Yes. Did it get out of hand months ago? Yes, but that was not of our own doing.”

Mr Copland also acknowledged that police have only received one complaint from a member of the public since an application for license review was made at the end of November.

The Edinburgh Evening News reported this week how one resident who lives above the St Vincent Bar, Peter Henry, has particular concerns about people buying drinks and then rejoining the queue to buy more alcohol, claiming some have been littering the pavement outside his home with cigarette ends.

Licensing board member Derek Howie also asked Mr Grierson in what circumstances he would be prepared to shut the bar. Mr Grierson said that, should there be a situation like a fight, for instance, they would contact police - but he said this has never happened before.

During the board meeting, local councillor Joanna Mowat suggested it would be worth the council exploring how the St Stephen’s Centre steps could also be better managed to ensure big groups do not congregate.

Mr Grierson also said he would be willing to consider reversing the direction of the queue outside the St Vincent Bar towards the church, in order to prevent any access issues for local residents.

Police have been involved with the premises since June and has received 17 separate complaints from 13 different residents, while the council’s licensing standards manager, Tom Veitch, said they had received “large volumes” of complaints.

However, licensing convener Norman Work said he believed that some of those complaints may have come about as a result of a letter which was circulated initially encouraging people to complain, and that this should be taken into account.