THE manager of a town centre pub has attacked the pricing policy of Warrington's pubs and clubs.

Darren Reynolds, from Friars Court, says licensees, the council and police need to stop the sale of cheap drinks because it leads to violence.

Mr Reynolds has worked in Warrington for three-and-a-half years and is an award-winning licensee with 12 years experience.

But he says the Pubwatch scheme is failing and he has never seen the late night economy in such an appalling state.

He said: "Here in Warrington we have reached a point of saturation with too many licensed premises and not enough footfall.

"Venues are now fighting for what footfall is left with stupid, ill-conceived drinks promotions of 50p drinks and the like.

"In my experience it is the product policy that is responsible for the low footfall in town itself - it is feeding the problem.

"People are coming to town, spending a fiver, some of them are underage and it is ending up in violence, and then other people become scared to enter the town."

Mr Reynolds says his opinion on policing and managing the late night economy has never been sought, and that many of the council boards tackling these issues do not have any representatives from the licensing trade.

He insists some customers do want a quality night out, and because Friars Court charges £3 entry at weekends and £3 a drink on average, violence at the venue is limited.

But he said: "Some of these venues only make money from door revenue because the drinks are 70p.

"Enterprise Inns own places like Reef, Level and Postern Gate. The licensees pay rent and buy alcohol from them but how they manage their business is up to them.

"These guys are selling products at cost price and charging £3 on the door to make their money. They are giving us a really bad name and a bad reputation.

"It has got to the point as a licensee with a decent record that I don't want to trade in Warrington."

Under competition rights the council and police are unable to force premises to set prices.

However, Mr Reynolds believes they can use other strategies, and says it is essential that company directors are taken to task along with their licensees.

He said: "The council, in my opinion, is hiding behind that. I take that point, but how many people are ending up in police vans, ending up in ambulances, ending up killed?

"The council can find where these people have been failing to control violence and selling to underage customers and take them to task, give them an action plan and if they fail that action plan, apply for their license to be revoked. Warrington Borough Council has not done that."

Enterprise Inns had so far not commented on this story.