A WINCHESTER pub will not lose its licence and the boss will stay – despite a police officer branding him "lazy, selfish and incompetent".

The Exchange and its designated premises supervisor Colin Clark had been under the police spotlight following a rising number of public nuisance complaints.

A committee that reviewed the pub's licence heard that, since the hospitality industry was allowed to reopen, a sexual assault happened on the premises as well as a fight between two groups of rugby fans.

PC Brian Swallow, who called for Mr Clark to be removed from his position, said: "I am aware that Mr Clark has been running the pub for years, but I have no confidence in him moving forward.

"He is lazy, selfish and incompetent. Every pub in Winchester has incidents but The Exchange is not in proportion with the others."

PC Swallow also said that bar staff had not been trained to a high enough standard. He described an incident in which a bag of drugs were found in the toilet of the pub in Southgate Street.

Staff had not been educated on how to deal with this and there were no posters or information on drug misuse in the building, said the police constable.

He added that staff had not been complying with track and trace rules. When he asked one employee to open the NHS app, it said they should have been isolating.

But pub regular John Cowking, of St Cross, in Winchester, told the meeting of his experiences.

He said: "The Exchange is my favourite pub in the city. I've always found it to be well-managed, friendly and a calm place to have a drink.

"When there is a big match on it does get a bit louder but that's to be expected. I'm a pensioner and so are my friends and we have never felt uncomfortable in the pub.

"I've been going for seven or eight years under the current management and it's always been safe and friendly. The recent incidents, which happened after months of lockdown, are not typical."

Mr Clark has been a pub manager for 21 years and previously also ran The William Walker and Alfie's.

Julia Palmer, of Trethowans Solicitors, representing Mr Clark, said that if he was to be removed from his position, his family would be forced to move from the home they have lived in for 20 years.

"I don't think this represents the pub but more the results of lockdown," she said. "Those closeted for ages wanted to get out and enjoy themselves and perhaps got carried away. This was then followed by the Euros."

Cllr Mike Read, chairman of the licensing sub-committee, concluded the meeting by reading the council's decision.

He said: "We do not propose to remove Mr Clark from his position. We accept that the football clientele and the unusual circumstances of reopening did not help.

"However, anti-social incidents were on the increase prior to Covid."

The council has put a number of conditions on the pub's licence.

One states that at least three security guards must be on shift if a Southampton FC football match, an FA Cup fixture or any other big game is being shown on the TVs.