Shrewsbury's Old Lion Tap pub can keep licence

A Shrewsbury pub has been allowed to keep its licence despite a catalogue of alleged breaches reported to police, including under-age drinking.

The Old Lion Tap, in Barracks Passage, has been told it can carry on trading subject to a number of conditions including adopting a challenge 25 policy - where anyone who looks under the age of 25 must provide identification.

The pub has also been told to become a member of Pub Watch in Shrewsbury, which aims to create a safer social drinking environment by creating a network between all licensed premises in the area.

Fiona Howe, central licensing sub-committee officer for Shropshire Council, said the measures had been brought in after West Mercia Police requested a review of the venue by Shropshire Council's licensing team. The new conditions of the licence were agreed at a licensing committee meeting held yesterday at Shirehall.

Ms Howe said: "Members of the committee have now agreed that the pub can keep the licence subject to the two conditions. It is not legally enforceable to make the licence holders become members of the local Pub Watch scheme but they have agreed to join."

Earlier this month police claimed the pub was "undermining" the prevention of crime and disorder.

A report to councillors by Carol Foster, licensing team leader, said police had made an application for a review of the licence following reports of fighting at the venue, loud music and under-age drinking. The review application was supported by a log of incidents from December 2007 to June 2010.