Droylsden pub set for licensing review

Alleged sex acts in the beer garden, fighting and excessive noise could see a pub in Droylsden lose its booze licence. 

According to a resident living nearby, punters of The Pig on the Wall were seen fighting, and a couple  ‘engaged in sexual activity in the beer garden’, over the course of a few days in June.

A neighbour to the Greenside Lane venue compiled a long list of complaints between June 10 and June 15 – all related to excessive noise and disturbance. 

The complaint has led to a licence review hearing for the establishment, set to be held on Monday, August 11.

Tameside Council’s licensing panel will hear from licensing officers, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) as well as the pub’s management before making a decision on the pub’s future ability to sell alcohol.

In her letter requesting a licence review, speaking on the events of Wednesday, June 11, objector Deborah Richardson said: “The beer garden was particularly busy due to the weather. One group was extremely loud and disruptive throughout the evening. 

“At no point were they asked to move inside, and the noise continued until approximately 10.30pm.

“Around 11.00pm, a male and female from the same group returned to the beer garden and had a loud, aggressive argument, which escalated further. Disturbingly, the same couple were then seen engaging in sexual activity in the beer garden.”

Speaking about the day before (June 10), Mrs Richardson added: “A group that had been drinking in the beer garden became aggressive upon leaving. Two males engaged in a physical altercation at the front gate.”

After receiving the letter from the neighbour, licensing Officers, Loni Davies and James Horton carried out a visit at Pig on the Wall on June 20. 

During the visit the incident book was not available to view; it was noted that the CCTV was only recording for 12 days, not the required 28 days; and the CCTV cameras were of poor quality, according to council papers.

A spokesperson for Star Pubs, who operate The Pig on the Wall, said: “We met on Tuesday with Tameside council members, a local resident, and the Greater Manchester Police licensing representative to hear first-hand any concerns about the pub.  

“As a result, we are upgrading the CCTV system to improve the quality of images and have agreed some quick-fix measures to reduce noise and any potential disturbances.”

Council documents revealed that since July 2021, the local authority has received 10 complaints from local residents in relation to noise nuisance from the Pig on the Wall.

In GMP’s letter of representation, PC Craig Foley also raised concerns over the alleged sale of illicit tobacco in the pub on April 24, 2025.

A letter from Dean Booth, director of The Pig on the Wall, in response to the complaints, read: “We believe that a public house should be more than just a commercial entity; it should be a cornerstone of the community it serves. At The Pig on the Wall, we have embedded this principle into our operational ethos. 

“Our primary goal is not only to be a successful and responsibly managed venue but also to act as a vital hub that supports local residents, charities, and initiatives.”

The licensing panel, who will convene in the Tameside One council building next week, have the power to change, suspend or revoke the licence.