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Topic ID 2148

29/10/2006 by lemonjelly

Anti-Social behaviour in Hertford: Part 2

(to satisfy Steve) I've just come home from a thoroughly enjoyable evening at the Millfield Theatre in North London (see the 'Local Choirs???' thread) to find that a number of late teens / early twenties have had an equally grand eveing at the White Lion in Bengeo. A lot of drunken shouting and screaming, presumably about who is giving sexual favours to whomever, and social inadequates trying to be adults. Up to this point I would say 'let them get on with it.' But then I spot some brave soul hiding in Trinity Church graveyard, throwing carefully selected stones at those with whom he (presumably) has taken umbridge with. When he realised he'd been spotted he threw a stone at my window and ran off. As 'James007' has previously said in another thread, 'these are 16 and 17 year olds, nearly men...' Well, in this case they may be slightly older (having been drinking in the White Lion, one would presume that they are) but these are NOT nearly men, they are a very long way from being men or understanding what that should mean.


0 replies

Archived Replies

Reply ID 29066

29/10/2006 by Steve

Sadly, this is not untypical of a Friday or Saturday night in Hertford, I suspect. The result of a culture of binge drinking and an immature attitude towards alcohol.


Reply ID 29163

30/10/2006 by shunt

There has certainly been an increase in late night noise, rubbish and loutish behaviour around this area in the last few weeks. Though there have been a few minor violations of the special conditions of the licence at the White Lion, but none of them seem unreasonable enough to warrant complaint. The pub has all but closed it's restaurant and is now concentrating on it's sports screens. I don't see this as a good omen. Behaviour in the street may be unconnected with the pub itself, but a coincidental influx of younger drinkers in the area. The publican can control who comes through his door and who he serves, but not who hangs around outside.


Reply ID 29164

30/10/2006 by Bengeobabe

This was of course the local residents worry when the late licence was obtained... We were assured it wouldn't happen. But now it is, do we have any comeback, or are we trying to shut the gate when the horse (or lion?!) has already fled 100 metres down the road...??


Reply ID 29168

30/10/2006 by shunt

quote:
Originally posted by Bengeobabe
This was of course the local residents worry when the late licence was obtained... We were assured it wouldn't happen. But now it is, do we have any comeback, or are we trying to shut the gate when the horse (or lion?!) has already fled 100 metres down the road...??
As I said, I am not at all sure if the recent disturbances are all down to the pub. The street does seem busier later, but by the time one is woken, the noise is in the street and there is no telling where the sources of it have been drinking.


Reply ID 29211

31/10/2006 by lemonjelly

quote:
Originally posted by shunt As I said, I am not at all sure if the recent disturbances are all down to the pub. The street does seem busier later, but by the time one is woken, the noise is in the street and there is no telling where the sources of it have been drinking.
This incident was not necessarily the fault or responsibility of the pub, but it did originate there. I was walking along Bengeo Street to my home from where I had parked my car and there was a group of (mainly) girls urging a young man to not 'go back into the pub and do anything'. Now I am not criticising any of this group as it shows that at least some of them had the good sense to prevent a bad situation from getting worse. However, these people were the target of the stone thrower five minutes or so later.


Reply ID 29214

31/10/2006 by shunt

Unless it becomes a regular event, there is little to be done. Every pub has the odd incident, it is only repetition which indicates that it is not being handled correctly. For example, I was seriously injured during an assault on the doorstep of one of Hertford's town centre hostelries once, but I wouldn't say that physical violence is representative of the usual character of that premises. We'll just have to wait and see how the constantly evolving White Lion developes. It has a fairly good clientelle, but frequent changes of manager don't help it much. Let's hope Rob gets a firm hand on the helm and lasts the course.


6 replies