THE director of a firm responsible for a Newport pub has admitted to a “grave error of judgement” after the premises had its licence suspended for three months.

The Ivy Bush Inn has been closed since March 24 after a police warrant unearthed a cannabis factory operating above the pub in Clarence Place.

Police claim that the cannabis plants, 20 of which were found during the search, were being grown using power from the pub’s electricity.

Gwent Police requested that the licence be reviewed by Newport City Council due to the venue’s association with “serious criminal activities” relating to offences committed under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.

The pub has been under investigation by the licensing authority since last August following complaints of loud music being played past licensed hours.

The investigation also found that DJ and live music sets had been advertised on Facebook “well beyond” the 1am limit on the pub’s licence.

Such activities had been reported while Alexandra Chapman was the designated premises supervisor (DPS) between March and October 2017.

During this time Griffin Properties, the premises licence holder, had also entered into a ‘tenancy at will’ agreement – a tenancy without a lease or written agreement – with Ms Chapman and her father, Alan Edwards.

A report by licensing officer William Lewis said the complaints were supported by CCTV footage of DJs with music decks, strobe lighting and customers dancing.

Both Ms Chapman and Mr Edwards had failed to attend three requests for interviews under caution with the authority, says the report.

But last October, Ms Chapman relinquished her DPS duties to Julian Blake, who remained in the role until April 4.

David Barton, the Portskewett firm’s director, told a licensing subcommittee that the tenancy will agreement was a mistake and a “failing on his part”.

“I made a grave error of judgement by giving Alexandra Chapman and Alan Edwards a tenancy will agreement,” he said yesterday (Monday).

“I can only hold my hands up and admit that it was an error. I have to fall on my own sword.”

Mr Barton told the committee that a third party was interested in taking over the pub and that a deal was close to being struck.

Griffin Properties had also agreed to several changes to the existing licence with officers, including reduced licensing hours.

But any deal has been put on hold for three months after the committee opted to suspend the licence, a decision which could yet be appealed within 21 days.

Labour councillor Graham Berry said: “We have seen the demise of the Ivy Bush, and it’s a shame to see it going this way.”