Prosecco bar owner defends venue after cllr claims teen daughter and pals were 'thrown out'
Cllr Craig Hannaway says it 'ruined' his daughter's 18th celebrations but the venue says staff 'acted in good faith'
Kelley PriceMulti-media Journalist
Cllr Craig Hannaway and The Prosecco Quarter, in Redcar
A Redcar bar owner has defended his venue after a councillor claimed staff "threw out" his 18-year-old daughter and her friends.
Councillor Craig Hannaway said the Prosecco Quarter put the group out "onto the street" an hour earlier than their booking ended, apparently ruining his daughter's 18th birthday party.
The venue's owner has apologised for a "miscommunication" in allowing a reservation until 11pm when they shut at 10pm on a Sunday.
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But he added the group "certainly wasn't thrown out at 10pm" and staff "acted in good faith".
Mr Hannaway, an independent councillor for Saltburn, claims staff created a "safeguarding" issue by turning a group of teenagers who "don't come from the town out on the street".
Fans of the "fantastic" bar say staff are known for being "lovely and friendly" - and the venue is "not a creche".
Others say if the venue was booked until a later time, it "should have stayed open".
Owner Damon Smee acknowledged a reservation until 11pm "certainly should not have been agreed" by staff.
"If there has been a communication breakdown, I can only apologise," he told Mr Hannaway.
"I have also reviewed the CCTV footage and as far as I can see, some of the group were still in the bar at 22.20.
"This is 20 minutes past closing.
"Our staff moved the group from the back room to the front area of the bar, so that a thorough clean and fogging could take place.
"This is usual protocol when tidying up at the end of the day.
"Our manager was in attendance along with another member of staff when they were asked to leave.
"I can honestly say she would not be rude and they certainly weren't thrown out at 10pm.
"They were made aware of closing times of 10pm, this giving them ample time to make arrangements for a pick-up.
"They then informed the manager of the bar they had a mini bus collecting them at 22.30.
"To avert any safeguarding issues, they were allowed to remain in the building until 22:20, while the staff carried out their cleaning duties and then locked up to go home."
"I'm sorry that you feel the group were in some way mistreated," he continued, "but I can honestly say that this wasn't the case."
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Mr Smee said he would "gladly" repay the £50 holding deposit put down by the group.
Mr Hannaway said the family had a "lovely time" earlier in the evening before he left his daughter at the bar with her friends, arranging to pick her up at 11pm when the booking ended.
"The venue threw her and her friends out an hour early, and didn't do it at all nicely, so now she's really upset," he said.
"If I'd know they would ruin her 18th birthday, I'd have booked somewhere else.
"Apart from the sheer rudeness, there is also the safeguarding issue of putting a group of teenagers who don't come from the town out on the street an hour before their families think they are coming to fetch them.
"He says they always shut at 10pm so it was a "miscommunication" if we weren't told that.
"If you had been there that night, you would have seen a really nice group of young people enjoying themselves - they didn't deserve to be treated like they had overstayed their welcome.
"[I want to] try to ensure they don't upset anyone else's children on a very special day."
Supporters of the bar have said the staff go "above and beyond".
"Bar staff aren't babysitters," one wrote.
"If this group of teenagers need safeguarding they should not be left alone drinking by their parents," another said.
"Last time I checked Prosecco Quarter was not a nursery or a care home???"
One man said: "Never had any issues with the bar and staff always friendly, the owners are proper down to earth businessmen and pillars of the community."
"It seems their may have been a misunderstanding of closing times," one lady added.
"I am sure the young adults would have been told way before they were asked to leave and put out that the venue was closing at a certain time so they needed to finish their drinks.
"Did none of them think to call or text you when they heard this information?
"Not saying the venue is in the right but licensing laws are licensing laws."
Another person wrote: "It shuts at 10, then why let them book it till 11?
"They should have said it shuts at 10 on a Sunday."
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