A LANDLADY has seen her bid to turn around a troubled Middlesbrough pub given the thumbs up.

Experienced publican Anne Thurlwell urged Middlesbrough Council to grant her permission to sell booze from the Junction pub on the corner of Union Street and Borough Road late last month. 

Now members of the licensing committee have given her bid the green light with alcohol and recorded music allowed between noon and 11pm Monday to Thursday, until 11.30pm on a Friday and Saturday and 10.30pm on a Sunday.

However, covid rules will see the pub shut at 10pm for the time being.  

Worries about noise and a past police raid at The Junction pub triggered objections to Ms Thurlwell getting a pass to sell booze ahead of the initial hearing. 

But the publican told the panel she was determined to see the bar open up to punters under her new stewardship.

Ms Thurlwell said: “All I want is a local community pub – I don’t want raves and discos and all these young ones in.

“I think I can turn that place around if you just give me a chance.”

Planning permission has been lodged to convert the pub into seven-storey student flats alongside a ground floor restaurant and shop.

Ms Thurlwell told the hearing she’d taken out a 12 month lease at the site for the time being – with conditions to limit noise and ensuring children vacate before 7pm part of the new licence. 

Ahead of the meeting, misgivings were shared by Newport councillor Chris Cooke about the pub’s past including drug use in the outside area through neglect and the first floor being run as a cannabis farm.

Bonfire wood being sourced from the premises and the pub operating after hours were also concerns.

But the committee was satisfied with the police’s stance on the new landlady – judging she could “uphold the prevention of crime and disorder” with conditions on the licence. 

The report added: “The premises should attract a different clientele and the operation, as a well run community pub, should not be detrimental to the licensing objectives.”