Chaos outside a Liverpool guest house has been likened to hit sitcom Phoenix Nights as rival football fans clashed.
A copper was stuck with a bottle in the fracas as people blared down megaphones during the chaos believed to be from Liverpool and Everton fans near Epstein’s Guest House on Anfield Road.
Liverpool Council’s licensing and gambling sub-committee has been hearing evidence into whether the alcohol licencing of the premises can be changed to include boozing out the front and in the garden.
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Channel 4’s Four in a Bed and Channel 5’s The Hotel Inspector star Patrick Duggan owns the eight-bed overnight spot, which has seen its application approved.
Merseyside Police are understood to have received multiple reports of concern from the local community about the venue, Liverpool Echo reports.
The venue is currently allowed to serve booze until midnight and play music, but the request has been entered by Duggan asking for it to be able to have a front including a marquee, garden room and patio at the rear.
Mr Duggan told the committee via Karl Barry, his licensing agent, the application had been made in good faith.
However, Merseyside Police objected in writing to the plans, outlining a series of issues.
Sgt Craig Carmichael explained how previous efforts had been made to work with Duggan and his former business partner, adding that “in the last couple of years” the property hadn’t been an issue for cops.
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But people had, on visits, been spotted drinking outside – which is not legal there.
Duggan had been seen using a microphone to get people to go inside.
On February 13, Liverpool played Everton in the Premier League and police visited the premises.
A row broke out between the two sets of fans as Everton supporters were escorted past the Guest House with Sgt Carmichael adding drinks were thrown “from both sides”.
Smoke bombs and flares were later launched at the Everton fans and a plainclothes officer hit with a bottle made from glass.
The violence came from the “spark point” of the fans drinking out the front of the guest house when they should not have been, he said.
Mr Duggan was praised for trying to control the activity, however, was doing the job of a licenced security guard which, at the time, the venue did not have.
He noted the venue was not to blame for the disorder.
A witness told councillors: “We knew there was going to be trouble. Fireworks were thrown in.”
Duggan said he was “busy” on derby day and was “disappointed” licencing officers chose then to pay him a visit.
Sgt Carmichael feared he was either trying to “circumvent a loophole” or “at worst, totally disregarding” the rules.
Committee chair, Cllr Christine Banks said it was like Peter Kay sitcom Phoenix Nights.
Speaking about Duggan’s use of a megaphone in the street said: “In the 15 years I’ve been doing this, I’ve never seen anything like this.”
Paul Farrell, operations manager said the idea of the marquee was “not suitable” adding that “We have told the applicant this, he has not come back.”
He added: “We deal with 4,000 complaints a year and I’ve not seen anything like this in 17 years.”
Plastic cups must be used the outside area must be cleared by 9pm.
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