Owner of the Gutsy Goose restaurant fined £2000 for illegally selling alcohol

Darren Beddis – the owner of the Gutsy Goose restaurant in Crwys Road, Cardiff, has been fined £2000 at Cardiff Magistrates Court for illegally selling alcohol at his premises. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

This is the second time that Beddis has been charged for illegally selling alcohol from his restaurant, as he was fined £800 on June 19, 2015 for exactly the same offences. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

For the latest charges – Beddis was found guilty on February 11, he appeared at Cardiff Magistrates Court yesterday to be sentenced. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Charge 1) Knowingly allowing a licensable activity to be carried out at the Gutsy Goose restaurant, contrary to section 138(1) of the Licensing Act 2003 – £1000 fine ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Charge 2) Unauthorised licensable activities, contrary to section 136(1)(a) of the Licensing Act 2003 – £1000 fine ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Charge 3) Exposing alcohol for sale and keeping alcohol on the premises for unauthorised sale, contrary to section 137 of the Licensing Act 2003 – No separate penalty given. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The court heard yesterday that Beddis had seven previous convictions for similar offences. In defence, Beddis said that he had sent in a request for a transfer of the license from the previous owner and rang up the Council a few times and didn’t hear anything back. Beddis confirmed that the restaurant was no longer selling alcohol and he doesn’t intend to apply for a license. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Jacqueline Parry, Chairperson of the Public Protection Committee at the City of Cardiff Council, said: “This case shows that the Council will continue to take action against those who don’t abide by the law. It seems as if this proprietor chose not apply for a license after he was caught and has been caught again. I would advise all restaurant owners that wish to sell alcohol to abide by the law and get the necessary license for their business, or they will be prosecuted. “ ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Beddis was fined £1000 for charge 1, £1000 for charge 2 and no separate penalty for Charge 3. He was also ordered to pay £150 in costs and a £100 victim surcharge. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​