An Anfield hotel owner has defended the management of his premises after a police officer was struck with a bottle amid a fight between Liverpool and Everton fans earlier this year.
Behaviour outside Epstein’s Guest House on Anfield Road in February was likened to something out of a sitcom when Liverpool Council was told of how it was run by hotelier Patrick Duggan last week. Mr Duggan had sought to vary the terms of his alcohol licence amid mounting criticism from the city council, Merseyside Police and neighbours.
Sgt Craig Carmichael told Liverpool Town Hall owing to people drinking outside Mr Duggan’s property - in breach of his existing terms - violence broke out when Liverpool and Everton fans clashed ahead of the Anfield derby in February. A police officer was hit with a glass bottle during the outbreak.
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Despite this, and committee chair Cllr Christine Banks comparing Mr Duggan’s operation to Peter Kay sitcom Phoenix Nights, the application to extend the areas in which the hotel can serve alcohol was granted. Now, the Irish hotel owner - who has featured on Channel 4’s Four in a Bed and The Hotel Inspector on Channel 5 - has hit back at the criticism levelled at him last week.
He said he “deserved” to have his application granted and rebuked suggestions people had been using areas around his property as a toilet. Mr Duggan said: “There was some talk about people urinating.
“If that happened, they’d have to be nine and a half feet tall because the wall itself is six feet tall. If it had happened, it would have been reported and I’d have seen it.
“It’s never happened ever. If it happened even once, it would have been brought to my attention but there’s no evidence.”
During the lengthy hearing last week, a series of issues were outlined by Merseyside Police who had objected in writing to the plans. Sgt Carmichael said police had sought to work with Mr Duggan and a previous business partner who had been involved with the hotel.
On February 13, Liverpool and Everton met in the Premier League and police visited Epstein’s. Sgt Carmichael said two bars outside the front of the property were in use, in breach of its licensing conditions.
During the evening, Everton fans were being escorted past the venue when abuse was shouted and violent chanting broke out. The police officer said Liverpool fans at the hotel responded and had to be pushed back by those on the scene.
Sgt Carmichael said drinks were thrown “from both sides” before flares and smoke bombs were launched by Everton fans. He said a plain clothes police officer was also hit with a glass bottle.
Mr Duggan told the ECHO he was frustrated to not be able to put his side of the story across during the hearing. He said: “We endeavour to not have people at the front of the property when opposition fans go past.
“People will always use Anfield Road on derby day which I understand but on the day in question, I was minding my own business and there were two officers outside my gate. I was glad to have them there.
“The fans threw some missiles and there was argy-bargy and shouting. By the time it got to us, they were more dispersed and less intensive.”
One of the more eyebrow raising moments of the hearing last week was the revelation that Mr Duggan would stand outside the Beatles’ manager-inspired venue and attract customers with a less than conventional method. He said: “I’ve been there 16 and a half years. I very often would wear a policeman’s hat, go and stand outside with a megaphone, in my own gate. I did it for years and years.
“Everyone was engaged with it. I’d do it an hour before and after the match, it went quite successfully.
“It was good humoured, the police used to smile and I had no complaints about it. I gained some long term customers doing that.”
In granting the variation, Cllr Banks - who clashed with Mr Duggan at the end of the near three hour session and accused him of not showing respect to neighbours - said only plastic cups must be used when patrons are drinking outside and external areas must be cleared by 9pm daily.
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