A COLCHESTER pub which was stripped of its alcohol licence due to concerns it was at the “heart of a large scale cocaine business” has reapplied for its licence.

Drug dealers unwittingly sold cocaine to undercover police officers at The Leather Bottle in Shrub End who had been deployed there to disrupt the supply of Class A drugs.

According to an Essex Police report, cocaine was used in plain sight and officers deployed to the pub between June and November last year bought drugs several times.

Read more: Colchester pub BANNED from selling alcohol amid drug-driven violence investigation

In the report, submitted to Colchester Council ahead of a licensing meeting on January 5, police described the pub as “arguably the heart of a large-scale cocaine supply business”.

But now the venue’s landlord has applied to have its licence reinstated amid a bid to resume selling alcohol on and off the premises.

The application made to Colchester Council also seeks to have live and recorded music indoors from 10am to midnight, Sundays to Wednesdays, and from 10am to 1pm, Thursdays to Saturdays.

Provision of late night refreshment from 11am to midnight, Sundays to Wednesdays, and from 11pm to 1am from Thursdays to Sundays.

The solicitor representing the licence holders, Mr O’Toole, at the licensing meeting in January denied staff were involved in illegal activities.

But section of a police report read: “The drug dealing was widespread (it took place on each occasion the premises were visited) and conducted in the open.”

Officers also witnessed a fight between eight men using weapons in early July which escalated into three of the men driving at people in the car park.

Later that month, an undercover officer had a conversation with a man who claimed some men had handguns in the waistbands of their trousers in anticipation of more trouble, the report continues.

Colchester Council has the final say regarding the application.