Village pub in High Halstow to have its licence reviewed over fire safety failings
Kent Fire and Rescue identified serios concerns at The Red Dog
Last updated 5th May 2025
A village pub is set to have its licence reviewed over alleged fire safety failings.
Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) says it identified “serious concerns” at the The Red Dog in High Halstow following a safety audit.
It’s now made a formal request to Medway Council to review the licence of the boozer, in The Street over inadequate fire safety assessments and warning systems.
The fire service also says the pub failed to comply with an enforcement notice issued in December last year.
The notice was served after an inspection in October raised “serious concerns” because of no suitable and sufficient fire risk assessments undertaken and an inadequate fire warning and detection system.
After the notice, officers returned to the Red Dog on January 28, the day before it was due to expire, to discuss a possible extension due to stated ill-health.
However, when the responsible person at the Red Dog was contacted on January 29 about the expired notice they said they had not received it.
KFRS emailed the same day to arrange a visit to the pub to meet and discuss an extension to the notice and a way to resolve the issues raised.
Officers set a deadline of February 2 for a date to be arranged, but they say the Red Dog didn’t agree a meeting and all follow up communications from KFRS have not been responded to.
They are now seeking a licence review by Medway Council and an application made on April 7 is awaiting a date to be set for a licencing hearing.
The Red Dog was contacted for comment.