THE future of No 10 will be decided next month when the Bridport bar’s licence comes up for review.

Bridport Police are concerned about overcrowding and drunken disorder – a matter of ‘life and death’.

West Dorset District Council will be reviewing the licence on February 28 following calls from police.

Bridport Police Inspector Mike Darby said it was important the conditions of the licence were adhered to – particularly in relation to the number of people allowed in.

He said: “The premises is licensed for 60 people – because there is only one entrance and exit “Dorset Fire and Rescue say if there are more than 60 people in there if there is a fire there is a good chance that people will get killed.

“So it is actually a life and death condition not just an arbitrary one.

“The licensee says we have been there four times in one night but that is untrue. We visited him three nights in a row on a Friday, Saturday and Sunday night in December as part of Operation Protect to ensure that licensing conditions were being adhered to.

“Due to concerns found in those visits it was decided we would take the matter to formal review as is the correct process. The panel will look at our report and give him an opportunity to speak and decide what course of action to take.”

That action could either be to modify the conditions of the premises licence, remove the premises’ supervisor, revoke or suspend the licence for up to three months, exclude a licensable activity or take no action.

A spokesman for West Dorset District Council said: “Dorset Police has called for a review of the premises licence for No. 10 Bridport under the licensing objectives the prevention of crime and disorder and public safety.

“The review is being sought due to non-compliance of the conditions of the licence, and concerns regarding overcrowding and incidents of drunkenness and disorder at the premises.”

Insp Darby added: “Operation Protect was about us reassuring customers and licensees there is a police presence to reduce alcohol-related violence but it also gave us an opportunity to ensure licensees are keeping up with their conditions and licensing legislation.

“We visited not just No 10 but the majority of pubs in Bridport town centre on a number of occasions. If police went back to those premises it was in relation to further incidents be it a fight or disorder.”

No 10 landlord Paul Hindes did not wish to comment.