Hogan back behind pumps (From The Bolton News)

Hogan back behind pumps

5:40pm Thursday 27th September 2007 in

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REBEL landlord Nick Hogan has been reinstated as the licensee of The Swan hotel and Barristers bar.

Bolton Council's licensing department has confirmed it is amending the licence of the town centre pubs, once again naming Mr Hogan as the landlord.

He was shut out when the owner of the buldings, Paul Kylie, had his son installed as the new landlord after a meeting with licensing chiefs at Bolton Council.

But Mr Hogan launched a battle against the decision and his solicitor, Andrew Haffner, is expecting to receive the new licence tomorrow.

Mr Hogan, said: "I'm delighted and this just shows that I haven't done anything wrong . I thought I was going to be out of here on September 21, but I'm still here on September 27 because I'm an honourable, decent businessman."

Mr Hogan was locked out of The Swan and Barristers last Friday when the owner of the buildings, Paul Kylie called in the baliffs and changed the locks, claiming the terms of the lease had been broken because the landlord had allowed customers to smoke.

The pub boss - who has been making headlines for allegedly flouting the smoking ban - went to the High Court in Manchester and claimed he had not broken the law because he had not been convicted in connection with his reported smoking ban breaches.

Mr Hogan won the right to get back into the two pubs, but as the case was being heard, Mr Kylie and his son, Ryan, visited Bolton Council's licensing department, where they changed the tenancy of The Swan and Barristers, naming Ryan as the new licensee.

But following a letter from Mr Hogan's solicitor, the council have reversed their decision and he has now been reinstated as landlord.

His solicitor, Mr Haffner, said: "We were very concerned regarding the circumstances surrounding how the license got transferred into Ryan Kelly's name last Friday. We asked the licensing authority to investigate matters and we put in an application for the transfer of the license back into Nick's name and they have now granted that application."

The controversial landlord has repeatedly allowed drinkers to smoke in the two bars.

He is now awaiting trial after pleading not guilty to five counts of failing to prevent people from smoking and four of obstructing council officers.

Mr Hogan was due to appear at the High Court in Manchester this morning to determine whether he has breached the terms of his lease.