A VILLAGE hall is the first of its kind to join a pubwatch scheme aimed at making people feel safer when drinking in Teesdale.
The Scarth Hall, in Staindrop, is the latest licensed premises to join Teesdale Pubwatch.
The chairman of the hall, Morris Race, who is also the chairman of the pubwatch scheme, said the decision to join was a proactive move to ensure visitors can socialise in a safer drinking environment.
He said: “The Scarth Hall is the first and only village hall to join Teesdale pubwatch.
“It is a good deterrent. If someone was to visit the hall, who is barred out by Teesdale Pubwatch, we would say sorry you can’t visit Scarth Hall.
“We have good clientele but this gives the message that we are proactive with regards to anti-social behaviour. We have a zero tolerance policy.”
The hall underwent a £500,000 revamp and reopened in October 2016. As well as having a licensed bar, the venue now boasts renovated community facilities such as a commercial grade kitchen, a modern IT suite and state-of-the-art cinema equipment.
PC Harry Marsh, who helps co-ordinate Teesdale Pubwatch, was pleased to welcome Scarth Hall to the fold at the May meeting.
Although there will not be any door staff on duty at the hall on a permanent basis, staff behind the bar will be trained to ensure under-aged drinkers are not served and that ID is checked for those who look under the age of 21.
Mr Race has been part of the scheme since 2000 and has seen it expand beyond Barnard Castle.
He said: “We’ve got licensed premises in Middleton-in-Teesdale, Eggleston, Ovington and High Force.
“We just want it to be a bigger deterrent – we don’t want idiots coming into pubs. It’s just to send a message to people that we’re being pro-active. We want Barnard Castle and Teesdale to be a nice place to come so people can go out, feel comfortable and not be frightened of bother.
“We’re constantly preaching to licensees to not let the idiots in.”
Teesdale Pubwatch meetings are held on the first Wednesday of every month at the Golden Lion, in Barnard Castle.
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, June 6.
