Fife hospitality venues face hearing over COVID regulation breaches

No further action will be taken against Leven nightclub Truth or The Auld Hoose pub in Windygates after hosting staff and punters after-hours.

Fife Licensing Board heard police were called to Truth in the early hours of February 20 this year, during the most recent nationwide lockdown, after receiving a tip-off that people were in the club's bar area.

After being challenged by officers, one of the individuals identified himself as new venue owner Ewan Brown, saying he was there to clean up alongside some of his staff.

Fife police sergeant, Gordon Hood, told the meeting: “He said he was the new tenant of Truth and would be taking over the premises. He stated he was there to tidy up.

"There were four people there - three were consuming alcohol."

Fixed penalty notices were handed out, and were paid in full by Mr Brown, who also runs the Base restaurant elsewhere in the town.

Mr Brown told the board: "It was a lapse of judgement. I should have said no but because it was just us and the door was closed...it was a bad decision."

Truth has been transferred to Mr Brown from businessman Lee Murray. As the outgoing licence holder he remains liable for the conduct - and admitted that the visit had been indefensible at a time when venues were closed.

Mr Murray told the board: "That particular day we had agreed a deal with Ewan to take over Truth. I gave him the keys, and in his defence I think he was a bit excited.

"He runs Base in Leven already, he had been open through restrictions doing takeaway, and he came in to do cleaning and bits and bobs.”

A motion of no further action was proposed by Cllr Gavin Ellis, seconded by Cllr John Docherty, and accepted by the board.

Monday's board meeting, held at Fife House, also heard a review case for Windygates pub The Auld Hoose and its bar manager, Kevin Ewan.