CCTV footage from a Birkenhead pub shows a man “brandishing a firearm” towards people on the street as a fight broke out, according to Merseyside Police

The Monkey’s Nuts on Market Street in Birkenhead had its licence suspended in April following reports of serious crime and disorder at the premises. This was followed by a meeting which took place on April 30 where councillors decided to revoke the licence which means the pub has closed.

The meeting to review the pub’s licence was held in private due to an ongoing police investigation and the pub will have the ability to make an appeal within 21 days.

On March 28 at around 7.10pm, there was an altercation involving a group of males outside the pub and during the incident it was reported a man was in possession of a firearm. There were no reports a firearm was discharged.

Following a police investigation, David Hughes, 27, of Market Street, was arrested, charged and convicted with possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence and possessing an offensive weapon in a private place. He was given a 12 month prison sentence suspended for 18 months and an unpaid work and rehabilitation activity. The gun and a knuckleduster were also confiscated.

Police made the request for a review following reports of serious crime and disorder. This request, provided to the LDRS by Wirral Council, said the bar was “seriously undermining” the aims of its licence.

The report is based on CCTV footage from Monkey’s Nuts of a fight that took place after 7.06pm on March 28 involving multiple men. The request said they could trace no call from the pub to alert police “despite a staff member being seen in the midst of this incident with his phone in his hand. Once this incident is over all parties carry on as if nothing has happened.”

According to the report, CCTV footage shows two men who had left the fight earlier return with one “brandishing a firearm towards members of the public and several males located outside” the pub.

According to the police report, “one male approaches the male with the gun and knocks him to the floor. Male then disappears out of view of the camera.” The CCTV also captures footage of an incident involving a knife.

On Tuesday April 30, Aaron Kerr, 36, of Oswalds Avenue, Beechwood was charged with possession of a knife blade / sharp pointed article in a public place and threatening a person with a blade / sharply pointed article in a public place. Kerr was remanded in custody and then bailed with conditions.

The pub was recently taken over by the Monkey Nuts Pub Ltd which was set up in January 2024. Roger George Jones is the sole director of Monkey Nuts Pub Ltd after Gareth Liam Furneyo resigned on February 1 according to Companies House.

According to a document from Wirral Council’s licensing department also seen by the LDRS, 18 complaints have been received with 13 of these after the company took over the pub. The other five had been received when Mr Jones and another individual were running the business.

A public Wirral Council report said the complaints included “allegations of noise emanating from the premises, drug-dealing taking place at the premises, drug taking by customers of the premises, and the premises opening beyond the hours permitted on their licence.”

Mr Jones told the LDRS the claims made against the bar were “highly exaggerated” and he had now lost an investment of £30,000 in the pub he considered to be his children’s future “that I will never see again.”

He said: “I am in no way saying there wasn’t times due to my inexperience I was at fault but I am only human and learn lessons every day of my life. This is a big one.”