Lancashire pub faces review after drugs, after-hours drinking & worker telling policeman to get his kit off

The Roebuck at Burnley Road East, Waterfoot, is the focus of a premises licence review by Rossendale Council next week, following a request by Lancashire Constabulary.

It follows a similar review in 2022, when extra conditions were imposed, aimed at tackling concerns raised then.

Marie Burke holds The Roebuck premises licence and been named as the designated premises supervisor since February 2020, whilst her sister, Jayne Walton, is involved too.

In the past, the women said they would make improvements but also felt some accusations were unfair or exaggerated.

Now, police led by Sgt Stephen Dundon, say new complaints about The Roebuck were raised in autumn 2025.

A resident made accusations of anti-social behaviour, drinking after hours, drug use in an outside area and disturbance. The issues had been ‘ongoing and caused significant distress’, according to a new report for Rossendale Council’s licensing sub-committee.

Police and council officer then visited to the pub on different days in October. They found various licence breaches, accordong to council reports.

In one visit evidence of drug use and powder residue was found in the men’s toilets, whilst on another late-night visit, between 15 and 20 people were found inside after permitted hours with drinks.

Working at the bar that night was Marie Burke and sister Jayne Walton, and the lattter, whilst intoxicated, shouted at a police officer to ‘get his kit off’, according to a police report sent to the council.

Sgt Dundon wrote: “On October 19, police attended the pub with a council officer at 12.45am The licence permits opening until midnight. There were approximately 15 to 20 people inside, all with drinks and some that appeared almost full. The sister of the premises supervisor was present and appeared to be quite intoxicated. It was a chaotic scene.”

One male was also ejected for disorderly behaviour, after telling the police officer he should be out catching burglars instead.

Marie Burke said staff had been trying to get the customers out but it was hard, according to the police.

In his report, Sgt Dundon adds: “During conversations, a male family member was intoxicated and constantly interrupting. It was not possible to have a professional conversation with the premises supervisor so the police and a council officer left. ”

But Jayne Walton and the man followed the officers outside, demanding to speak more. The sister said ‘close me down, I don’t care’ while the man banged on the police car window.

On October 22, the police and council officer visited at 4.30pm, and they immediately smelled cannabis inside the pub.

There was only one customer in that part and he produced a part-smoked cannabis cigarette when spoken to, police say.

Furthermore, police say Marie Burke has repeatedly failed to provide requested CCTV footage, despite multiple, formal requests.

Overall, police say the issues indicate a failure to promote licensing objectives around crime and disorder, public nuisance and protection of children from harm, particularly given that the premises were subject to a review in 2022.

However, in a letter to the council ahead of the upcoming review, Marie Burke has defended the pub’s record and offered other opinions on events.

She wrote: “Sgt Dundon said it smelt of cannabis when he entered the room. But the person was not smoking it on the premises.”

On other issues such as people around the building, Miss Burke has written: “There is only one entrance-exit for the pub, which is shared with a private premises upstairs. So there could be the odd person coming-and-going between opening hours who are friends with the tenant upstairs.”

Elsewhere, she said some licensing information may not have been displayed as required when the police visited because the pub was being decorated.

And an issue with a football being kicked outside against a wall had been addressed with a replacement sponge ball for children, Marie said. There was also some distance between the wall and a neighbouring property, she emphasised.

Overall, she added: “We have not been made aware of any complaints.”

All sides will have their say at the review at 10am on Monday, January 12, at Rossendale Council’s offices in Bacup.