“DRUG taking” and “drug dealing” allegedly took place at a Birkenhead pub that had its licence suspended, according to a council report.

Monkey’s Nuts on Market Street had its licence suspended following a request by Merseyside Police for Wirral Council to review the licence. This took effect from 2pm on April 4 following a non-public meeting that day. This will be in place until a licensing committee meeting on April 30.

According to a new report published ahead of the April 30 meeting, councillors on April 4 “considered that the interim step to suspend the Premises Licence was necessary and appropriate to prevent serious crime and disorder occurring at the premises.” On April 30, the suspension as well as the pub’s future licence will be reviewed.

The report said a number of complaints had been received since the current licence holder had taken over the pub and “include allegations of noise emanating from the premises, drug-dealing taking place at the premises, drug taking by customers of the premises, and the premises opening beyond the hours permitted on their licence.”

The council said inspections had taken place by licensing enforcement officers “who identified breaches of the conditions of the Premises Licence which resulted in a warning letter being issued.”

Merseyside Police previously said it made the request for a review following recent reports of serious crime and disorder, which included a firearms incident on Thursday 28 March 2024.

At around 7.10pm, the police said there was an altercation involving a group of males outside the premises and during the incident it was reported that a male was in possession of a reported firearm. There were no reports that a firearm was discharged.

Following an investigation, David Hughes, 27, of Market Street, was arrested and charged with possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence and possessing an offensive weapon in a private place.

A private limited company, The Monkey Nuts Pub Ltd, was set up at the pub’s address in January 2024. The company currently has one director, Roger George Jones, who was approached for comment.