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Bogus Chatham barman ordered to pull down boozer

Bogus barman Dean Goodearl has been ordered to take down a pub in his back garden
Bogus barman Dean Goodearl has been ordered to take down a pub in his back garden

Time has been called on a hobby barman's back-garden pub.

Dean Goodearl, 23, has been ordered to pull down a shed he had converted into a bar behind his Chatham home.

The temporary pub - in the style of a Swiss chalet - had Fosters and John Smiths beer pumps connected to barrels outside.

It had a dartboard, pool table, plasma TV, one-armed bandit and even a disco ball hanging from the ceiling.

The pub was divided from Mr Goodearl's terraced house, in Pimpernel Way, by a fence so people could access it from its own gate and pathway.

There was even a smokers' bin on the verandah so drinkers wanting to light up could do so outside.

It came to the attention of Medway council, which described it as an "anti-social blight", on a raid last year.

Bogus barman Dean Goodearl has been ordered to take down a pub in his back garden
Bogus barman Dean Goodearl has been ordered to take down a pub in his back garden

Working closely with Medway Police, officers served an enforcement notice on Mr Goodearl in January.

It ordered him to take down the building and stop operating a pub in his garden.

Mr Goodearl appealed, claiming the chalet was only ever used by himself and his close family after they went banger racing.

But he lost his appeal, with the planning inspector giving him six weeks to remove the building and the fence.

Now he must take both down by Wednesday, September 29 or face further legal action.

Bogus barman Dean Goodearl has been ordered to take down a pub in his back garden
Bogus barman Dean Goodearl has been ordered to take down a pub in his back garden

Cllr Mike O'Brien, the cabinet member for community safety and enforcement, said: "We are very pleased that the planning inspector agrees that this building must come down.

What do you think? Join the debate by adding your comments below
What do you think? Join the debate by adding your comments below

"This bogus pub was an anti-social blight for residents living nearby and as it was not a licensed premises it could put people who use it at risk.

"Mr Goodearl now needs to take down this building and give up the idea of being a pretend publican before the six week period is up or he will face further legal action."

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