The Statutory Licensing Sub-Committee of County Durham Council was scheduled to consider an application for a summary review of the premises licence for The Kings Head in Cockfield. This review was initiated by Durham Constabulary due to concerns about serious crime and disorder associated with the premises.

Application for a Summary Licence Review: The Kings Head, Cockfield

The committee was scheduled to consider an application for a summary review of the premises licence for The Kings Head, located at 53 Front Street, Cockfield. The application was submitted by the Chief Officer of Police of Durham Constabulary under sections 53A and B of the Licensing Act 2003¹. This process is initiated when the police believe a licensed premises is associated with serious crime and/or serious disorder.

The report pack indicated that the premises licence holder is FB Taverns FH Limited, and the Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) is Cherylanne Lowther. The licence authorises various licensable activities, including live and recorded music, late-night refreshment, and the sale of alcohol for consumption on and off the premises. The permitted hours for these activities were detailed in the report.

The police's application for a summary review was based on an incident on 25 July 2026, during which an individual sustained severe injuries, including multiple facial fractures, within the premises. This assault occurred in the presence of the victim's nine-year-old son. The certificate from Superintendent Stephen Long of Durham Constabulary stated that, in his opinion, the premises are associated with serious crime and serious disorder, and that other procedures under the Licensing Act 2003 were deemed inappropriate.

The sub-committee was asked to consider taking interim steps pending a full review of the premises licence. These potential steps included:

• The modification of the conditions of the premises licence.
• The exclusion of the sale of alcohol by retail from the scope of the licence.
• The removal of the designated premises supervisor from the licence.
• The suspension of the licence.

The report pack also included guidance on the summary review process under the Licensing Act 2003, outlining the steps involved for both the police and the licensing authority. A full review of the premises licence was scheduled to take place within 28 days of the application being received, by 25 August 2026.