Nightclub bosses’ arrests could put licence in jeopardy

THE businessmen behind one of Inverness’s most popular nightclubs — which is due to host X-Factor winner James Arthur on Saturday — were both arrested in separate incidents earlier this year, it has emerged.

George MacLeod, manager of Miami, was fined for breach of the peace while his business partner Amit Patni, who helps run the High Street venue, was fined after assaulting a customer.

Today Highland Licensing Board will consider their behaviour after Northern Constabulary chief constable George Graham asked that their licences to serve alcohol be reviewed.

The board could take a number of actions, ranging from issuing a warning to revoking their licences with immediate effect, a move which could shut the club, although this is thought unlikely.

Board chairwoman Maxine Smith yesterday hoped the two men would attend this afternoon’s meeting.

“The board takes these kinds of things very seriously and we do need to hear both sides of the story,” she said.

Councillor Smith explained members would need to decide if Mr MacLeod and Mr Patni were in breach of a public safety licensing policy.

Earlier this year Miami received a silver prize at the annual Inverness Best Bar None Awards for its customer care and commitment to a safer city centre.

However, it has now been revealed that Mr Patni was charged with assault after seizing a customer by his neck and slapping him in the face before throwing him out of the club.

The incident, on 10th May, was reported to the procurator fiscal who chose to issue a fine and not call the case to court.

Two months later Mr MacLeod was arrested for breach of the peace after sheriff officers, a locksmith and police attempted to execute a warrant under the Bankruptcy and Diligence Act on 9th July.

Police reinforcements were called when Mr MacLeod and Mr Patni adopted “hostile attitudes”, according to the police, at one point threatening to have the officers sacked and the sheriff officers charged with theft.

Mr MacLeod was given an anti-social behaviour fixed penalty fine by police after what was described as “his tirade” towards the locksmith.

Both men have paid their fines and although neither is a conviction, they are recorded in the national criminal history system.

Police chief inspector Pamela Ross has supplied details of the incidents in a letter to today’s meeting of the board.

“In Mr MacLeod’s case, he displayed a level of hostility and aggression towards public servants unbecoming of someone in his position and contrary to the prevention of crime and disorder objective,” she states.

“In Mr Patni’s case, patrons of any licensed premises have every right to expect a safe environment when on the premises and they should certainly not expect to get assaulted by supervisory staff.”

Neither Mr MacLeod nor Mr Patni could be contacted for comment yesterday.

The premises licence holder for Miami is Glasgow-based Corrdon, which appointed Mr MacLeod as manager.

If the venue loses its licence it would have to re-apply to Highland Licensing Board.

Corrdon could not be contacted yesterday.

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