Weymouth landlords put pub up for sale after legal dispute with Council
The Duke of Cornwall has been put on the market
Owners of the Duke of Cornwall pub in Weymouth say they’ve had “nothing but problems” since taking over.
Martin Rollings and his partner Tina Hearns have been in a legal dispute with the council for over a year.
Mr Rollings said:
“One noise complaint from a neighbour triggered Dorset Council to basically victimise us for the last year and a half and we've had enough.”
Despite more than 3000 people signing a petition to keep the pubs license “unmodified,” the council still imposed various modifications on the pub’s license in December 2021.
Following an appeal at Poole Magistrates Court the judge ruled in favour of the Duke of Cornwall, however, restrictions on live music licensing were upheld.
Mr Rollings claims the council “have had it in for them” since they received the noise complaint from a neighbour with alleged ties to the council.
The pub, situated on St Edmund Street in Weymouth, is a well-known music venue in the town and the landlord says they aren’t doing anything different than any previous owner.
Landlord Martin Rollings said:
“The legal action has definitely affected us financially and it will continue to do so because they've restricted our hours from what they used to be.”
The couple have now put the pub up for sale:
“It hasn't really been what we wanted or expected, so we've decided it's time to move on.
“It's been very, very stressful on both of us. It's not been pleasant at all.”
Greatest Hits Radio has contacted Dorset Council for a response.