LICENSING chiefs are calling last orders on a town centre pub after a police raid found evidence of drug dealing.

Officers stormed The Griffin in Great Moor Street last Thursday after receiving intelligence it was being used as a hub for the sale of drugs and stolen goods.

Now, Bolton Council’s licensing committee has suspended the pub’s licence and ordered that licensee Ronald Ridgley be removed.

Owners Admiral Taverns have 28 days to get the pub’s act together or face having the licence revoked permanently.

The licensing review was prompted when a police search found:

  • Five bags of what is believed to be cocaine
  • Empty packets of temazepam and diazepam
  • 70 bars of Cadbury’s Dairy Milk chocolate, worth £30, which police believe were stolen.

The committee heard that police found evidence of drug dealing at the pub and that it was being frequented by known criminals.

Bolton’s licensing officer, PC Garry Lee, said: “This should serve as a warning to all licensed premises that we will always take action when we receive this kind of information.

“It is the responsibility of the licensee to ensure their premises are being run properly and within the terms of their licence.”

A spokesman for Admiral Taverns confirmed that the landlord had been removed.

He added: “We have closed the pub voluntarily and we will now work with the police to ensure we can re-open and develop it as a community pub.”

Around 40 people were searched before being released by police during last week’s raid.

One man was arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods and was bailed.

Officers used cocaine swipes and an ultra violet torch to search for traces of the drug on surfaces around the pub, which uncovered residues of what is believed to be cocaine in the men’s toilet cubicle.

Speaking at the time of the raid, Mr Ridgley, who had been running the pub for seven months, said he supported the police action.