A WELL-KNOWN restaurant-bar has been refused permission to host a late-night gig with DJ Craig Charles after the owner was seen dispensing alcohol direct into friends' mouths from the bar.

The Purple Pig, a burger restaurant and bar with outlets in Middlesbrough, Yarm and Harrogate, applied for a one-off licence to host Charles - well-known as an actor from Coronation Street and Red Dwarf - at its Middlesbrough venue until 3am on Saturday, March 14.

But Middlesbrough Borough Council's Licensing Committee refused after Cleveland Police outlined a number of complaints against it, including serving after-hours, allowing smoking at one premises and holding a staff party until after 4am.

Sgt Paul Higgins, licensing officer at Cleveland Police, explained that officers had been contacted by counterparts from Harrogate Police after attending the Purple Pig in that town on Saturday, January 24, just weeks after it opened.

Police found people smoking inside, others drinking outside of permitted hours and reported "the owner, Som Emadi, dispensing alcohol directly into friends' mouths".

According to Sgt Higgins, that incident followed complaints in February at the Yarm venue when a staff party was held until after 4am which led to complaints from residents.

On Saturday, February 7, Stockton Borough Council turned up to the same premises at 12.45am and found the place still open, despite it being due to be closed at midnight. An inspection at the Middlesbrough premises on Friday, January 13 found various breaches of the licence, including a lack of training records.

It was also reported that CCTV footage was not being recorded for the required 31 days at any of the venues.

Sgt Higgins said: "Having 150 people drinking until 3am requires operators with the highest standards. It is the view of the police that the operators of Purple Pig have some way to go before they can demonstrate they have that standard."

Blake Brunskill, accounts manager at the Purple Pig, countered that in fact the company had recently taken on a highly reputable company to help manage the venues and that the problem with CCTV recording had already been resolved.

He added that the Middlesbrough premises, on Linthorpe Road, had already had successful late night events and the Craig Charles concert would raise money for the Zoe's Place hospice.

He also claimed that alcohol had not been served after-hours in either Yarm or Harrogate, although people were finishing their drinks.

After considering the evidence, Chairman of the Licensing Sub-Committee, Bernie Taylor, said the police submission was accepted and the application would be refused.

The Purple Pig has 21 days to appeal to the Magistrates Court. Mr Brunskill said the management would consider its options in the coming days.