Shield and Dagger pub reopens

But the long term future of the Shield and Dagger pub in Shirley is still in doubt as councillors will meet to discuss whether it will be allowed to remain open at a meeting next week.

The Shield and Dagger in Shirley was shut last month after fresh reports of violence.

As previously reported, a brawl left a man unconscious and came after 20 police incidents over the preceding year, including alleged “sexual entertainment”.

Landlord Tony Cookson has denied wrongdoing and said the fight which led to the closure started off-site.

But now the pub in Stratton Road has accepted new conditions in order to reopen, including a new CCTV system, extra bouncers and more staff training.

A police spokesman said that the pub had agreed to the new measures including closing times and additional security measures.

He said: “Following an inspection of the Shield and Dagger pub at the end of March, Hampshire Constabulary’s licensing team were satisfied that the owners had put in place the measures needed to meet the requirements set by the licensing authority, Southampton City Council, when the pub was issued with a closure order.

“This included the installation of satisfactory CCTV, the use of door supervisors at particular times, robust staff training and the use of incident logs.

“We informed the licensing authority that the appropriate action had been taken and the pub has been allowed to reopen until a definitive decision on its future is reached at a full hearing on April 20."

She added: “The pub is operating on the basis that it must stop serving at 11pm and close by 11.30pm.”

Southampton City Council is due to review the pub’s licence on Wednesday, April 20.

Mr Cookson declined to comment about the new conditions but when speaking to the Daily Echo previously he said up to 100 customers were set to write to the council protesting the licence review.

The council’s licensing and gambling sub-committee is due to meet at 9.30am on Wednesday, April 20, at Southampton Civic Centre.