Takeaway faces licence review after what police found above missing staircase

Tuesday, 22 July 2025 16:05

By Chris Gee

Police want a takeaway’s licence to be revoked after they said 156 cannabis plants were found on the two floors above it.

The review was requested after police executed a warrant at Bar-B-Q Land, Stand Lane, Radcliffe on June 5. Police said the ground floor ‘on face value looked like a conventional takeaway’ but on the first and second floor ‘live cannabis was found’.

A written submission from PC Peter Eccleston, on behalf of Greater Manchester Police (GMP) ffor the licence review has been published by Bury Council ahead of the authority holding a meeting about the takeaway on Monday, July 28.

In his statement, PC Eccleston, said: “Officers searched the ground floor, which on face value looked like a conventional takeaway with the main serving counter at the front of the premises with the kitchen and store room at the rear.

“Officers found that the main staircase to the upper floors had been enclosed with the lower five feet portion removed and light was emanating out of the remaining staircase and reflecting off the white chest freezer below.

“Officers had to climb onto the chest freezer and through the small opening left by the removal of the lower portion before continuing any further.”

PC Eccleston said that over the two floors, 156 plants at different stages of growth were found along with 44 halogen bulbs, 44 transformers, five
large carbon filters, fans, thermostats.

They also found plant feed and compost. He said officers also found that the electricity supply had been tampered with and the chimney breast had been ‘compromised with a venting system being fed into the chimney flue’.

PC Eccleston said that the ‘investigation is in its infancy’ and no arrests had been made. His statement added: “Apart from the staircase in the kitchen area, officers report that there was no other possible way of accessing the first and second floors therefore staff and management at the premises would not be able to ignore what was taking place in the floors above.

“It is quite clear from the execution of this warrant, that the four licensing objectives have been seriously undermined. “A criminal investigation is now underway not only for the production of cannabis but also the abstraction of electricity and GMP are requesting that serious consideration be given to revoke the premises license in its entirety.”

PC Eccleston said that body worn video links would be made available to the licensing committee along with the investigating officer’s statement who was present on the warrant.

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