Worldwide donors back pub's legal appeal against Covid breaches ban
Porky Pint owner Paul Henderson is challenging Stockton Borough Council’s decision to revoke the Billingham bar’s licence on Tuesday, October 12, at Teesside Magistrates’ Court.
The Mill Lane pub opened during lockdown in January as part of a “Great Reopening” protest against Covid-19 measures.
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Hide AdIts aftermath sparked licensing proceedings where Stockton’s licensing committee judged Mr Henderson had committed “extremely serious” breaches given the thousands of lives lost in the pandemic.
Mr Henderson, 38, argues that the state has “rejected 500 years of settled laws, customs and principles” in its actions – claiming it had discriminated against private enterprise during the pandemic.
So far, a total of 135 pledges have been made to the £10,000 appeal on legal crowdfunding site crowdjustice.com.
Mr Hendersons said the legal fee fundraiser had received support from as far away as Australia and the United States and added: “It’s been extremely difficult on many levels, both personally and in terms of the business.
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Hide Ad“Many people thought the business would shut down permanently.
“It does give us more strength for the fight coming up to know there are people (supporting us) in our own community and around the world.”
The pub owner added they would appeal “as high as they could go for as long as they could” if their initial efforts were unsuccessful.
The pub is continuing to trade pending the outcome of the ongoing appeal.