Kentville sports bar's liquor license revoked

BY JOHN DECOSTE

The Advertiser

NovaNewsNow.com



A Kentville lounge and sports bar has had its liquor license revoked by the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board.

The Edge had its license revoked Nov. 28 and earlier this week officials from the provincial Liquor Licensing Board moved in and executed the UARB order.

When contacted, Kentville Police Chief Mark Mander confirmed that his force assisted in the process, but “only as a back-up. We weren’t directly involved.�

Janet Lynn McNeil, a media spokesperson with the provincial Department of Environment and Labour, said Friday that the action was the result of a licensing issue.

In May 2004, a compliance officer from the Alcohol and Gaming Division paid a visit to Hau’s Restaurant in New Minas, whose owner, Michael Tan, also owns The Edge and the currently-closed JR’s/Club Static in New Minas.

During that visit, an incident took place that resulted in Tan being charged with uttering threats, for which he was convicted in May 2005.

As a result, the Alcohol and Gaming Authority issued infractions against Tan and the case was referred to the Utility and Review Board to impose a penalty.

The UARB recommendation, made Oct. 12 of this year, was that Tan transfer his liquor license. He was given 30 calendar days to comply.

Tan agreed to the conditions, McNeil said, but failed to complete the required transfer of the license within the allotted time, so the license was revoked.

As part of the same ruling, the liquor license for Hau’s Resturant in New Minas was suspended for seven days, a penalty that has since been served.

McNeil said that Tan has 30 days from the date of the revocation of the license Nov. 28 to appeal the decision to the UARB to have the license for The Edge reinstated.

In the meantime, her understanding from the UARB is that the business cannot serve any liquor on the premises, but is permitted to remain open to serve food only.