A CREDITON pub is facing a licensing hearing because officials claim it has not told them who now holds a specified role after the death of the landlord.

The Plymouth Inn, on Dean Street, is being brought before a licensing committee because of claims it has not specified who holds the designated premises supervisor (DPS) role following the death of landlord Derek Holder.

A report prepared for the hearing, scheduled for Monday, August 10 at Mid Devon District Council, said records showed the premises licence was held by Mr Holder from July 2006, and latterly jointly with his son, Craig.

Mr Holder was the designated premises supervisor – a role that is required under its licence – but upon his death in March this year, no update had been provided about who now undertook the DPS role.

The council said it had received one invalid application in April, but this was rejected due to it being completed incorrectly.

“The Licensing Authority has reason to believe that the premises is operating otherwise than in accordance with its current licence status,” the report states.

“Specifically, that the premises appears to remain regularly open and trading, including the sale and display of alcohol, despite there being no valid DPS in place, in contravention of Sections 136 and 137 of the Licensing Act, respectively.”

Devon and Cornwall Police has also contributed to the review, highlighting “serious concern” about the management of the premises and “ongoing disregard for advice and instruction” from the council.

A statement from a member of Devon and Cornwall Police, whose name has been redacted, said: “Following the death of the Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS), the premises were advised on several occasions by Mid Devon District Council that they must not open for the sale of alcohol until such time as a new DPS had been properly appointed.

“Despite this clear and repeated advice, the premises have continued to operate and sell alcohol unlawfully without a DPS in place.

“I have personally witnessed the premises being open on two separate occasions (dates in statement). In addition, other licensing officers from Mid Devon District Council have also witnessed the premises open during this period.”

It added that after Mr Holder’s death, those running the pub said alcohol would be “given away rather than sold”.

“However, it is evident that the sale of alcohol has continued beyond that initial period, demonstrating a persistent and ongoing breach of licensing requirements,” the statement added.

“This conduct undermines all four of the licensing objectives.”

It added that the continued operation of the pub without a DPS demonstrated “a blatant disregard for the licensing regime, raises significant concerns regarding management control, and calls into question the ability of the premises to operate in a responsible and lawful manner”.

“Devon and Cornwall Police therefore submit this representation to highlight the seriousness of these breaches and to support appropriate and proportionate regulatory action by the Licensing Authority,” it said.

The pub has no website and attempts to contact it on various available numbers were unsuccessful.

There was also no response to an email linked to its Facebook account, which was last updated in 2022 telling customers it was “cash only”.