HEREFORDSHIRE licensing chiefs reprimanded a national pub chain for ‘causing a huge cost’ to the citizens of Hereford.

Pub retailer and brewer Greene King applied to Herefordshire Council to vary their premises licence for The Grandstand in Hereford.

The firm was going to agree the licence conditions during the 28-consultation period but failed to do so and the application had to be brought before the committee.

Licensing chairman Dave Greenow, speaking to a Greene King representative at the meeting, said: “I wish for you to highlight the cost of these hearings.

“Your company has caused considerable cost to Herefordshire Council by not responding and it is fairly unacceptable really.

“Could you take that message back as strongly as you can because you said you would agree these conditions and failed to do so and that is a huge cost to the citizen of Hereford.”

The representative apologised. He said: “I just wish to offer an apology this should have been cleared up within the 28-day consultation.

“We haven’t had enough communication from our head office.

“We’ve taken that back because other premises that we own and operate do sit in different operations, but we agree with all the conditions and apologise for having to have the hearing.”

Councillor Anthony Powers said: “In relation to what you were saying about The Monument, which is so close geographically to The Grandstand being under a different operational wing of your business, Is that correct?”

The representative replied: “Yes that’s correct, we represent Hungry Horse Greene King which is a different operational brand than The Monument which is a local brand.

“There is a view to move forward to geographically align all the pubs and that’s why I’ve moved down from London to South Wales to be a part of that, but this highlights the need for our company to evolve and I apologise for that.”

The committee granted the licence with the agreed conditions.