Bar 48 in Alsager forced to close after cannabis factory found behind pub  

Bar 48 in Alsager.

A PUB has been forced to close temporarily after a small cannabis factory was uncovered.

Bar 48 in Alsager is currently closed after a number of plants were found in containers at the back of the Crewe Road premises.

Management has today denied any involvement in the incident and promised the bar would be back open soon.

A 48-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of drugs-related offences but has been released on police bail pending further inquiries.

Megan Powell, of Alsager, who works at the pub, said staff had been shocked by the discovery.

She added: "The bar doesn't open until 3pm but I live nearby and saw a load of police there. They were trying to get into the containers.

"When they pulled out the evidence there were lamps in there as well. They also looked in the bar, with it being close to the containers, but didn't find anything.

"It was a shock to us all at the bar but we're sticking together and carrying on with our refurbishments to the venue in time to reopen this week."

The pub had been due to close following an electrical fault and is now expected to reopen in the next few days.

Manager Mikala Howell, who has been involved with Bar 48 since it opened just before Christmas, now wants to step up security at the site.

The 27-year-old, from Alsager, said: "When I arrived I had no idea what was happening so I asked the officers.

"We're installing CCTV and do not want anything like this to occur again. We'll do anything in our power to stop incidents like this. The whole incident was chaotic, stressful. It's been a massive shock."

Residents said they had been left puzzled by the sudden closure last Thursday.

Alsager town councillor Bill Howell, aged 68, of Crewe, said: "I don't know where the police got their information from but it does seem it wasn't anything to do with Bar 48 other than it was in the back in some containers. It seemed to take the police rather a long time to sort it out and witnesses said they were making quite a noise."

Police are continuing to investigate but said officers were yet to establish the street value of the drugs.

A Cheshire Police spokesman added: "Police executed a warrant at a business premises on Crewe Road. A quantity of cannabis was recovered. A man was interviewed and released on police bail until a date in November, pending further inquiries. Police investigations remain ongoing."

http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/Bar-48-Alsager-forced-close-cannabis-factory-pub/story-22761162-detail/story.html 18/08/2014