Patients suffer abuse from rowdy drinkers

A Norwich optical practice whose trade has been damaged by its patients being subjected to 'foul and abusive behaviour' from the customers of a nearby pub has lost its appeal against the renewal of the pub's table and chairs licence.

In his objection, David Foskett, managing partner of Moss and Leakey Opticians in the Timberhill area of Norwich, had claimed on-street drinking by crowds of up to 60 drinkers in front of the Gardeners Arms pub was 'loud, lewd and too frequently aggressive'. He told Optician this week that the problems culminated when a drinker from the pub exposed himself to one of his customers.