SNOOKER star Tony Knowles put his reputation on the table yesterday ... and lost.

Knowles, aged 43, had an application for a licence to sell alcohol on the ground floor of his Horwich club turned down by Bolton magistrates.

He was also refused a special hours certificate for the basement of the premises to sell alcohol after 10 pm on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays for live music, disco and meals in a night club setting.

He said that the club had its licence revoked earlier this year for various allegations involving youngsters drinking under age, drug taking and after hours drinking in the premises at the junction of Chorley New Road and Winter Hey Lane, Horwich.

He said that food was not available late at night and there was public disorder on the premises.

Mr Alan Walsh, for Knowles who learned to play snooker as a youngster when his father was a steward at Tonge Moor Conservative club, said that previous staff had been dismissed and the club would be run as a sports bar with customers able to watch events on televisions.

Knowles said that he had bought two snooker tables which had been played on during World Championships and had imported a pool table from America which had been used by a world class players.

Knowles said that the club would be screened by security cameras and he would employ a security firm to help control the club.

He added that he had taken part in events to raise money for charities around Britain with stars such as Jimmy Tarbuck and Roy Walker and he hoped to attract them to Horwich.

Snookers stars he hoped would visit the club included Ronnie O'Sullivan and Jimmy White.

Knowles said that he had made mistakes in running the club in the past but he had now successfully obtained the initial Licensee Certificate.

He said that he would give coaching and guidance to any promising young snooker players in the hope that he would find a future world champion.

Knowles estimated that having to close the club had cost him £40 000.

Mother of three Sandra Ikin said she would run the club in Knowles' absence as assistant manager and had experience in the licence trade.

Police inspector John Taylor said on October 9 1996 he was in the basement of the premises where there were between 150 and 175 customers and when he asked for food a women behind the bar laughed and said "You are joking."

Sgt David Sutcliffe said he also visited the club last year and he saw a boy aged about 13 playing pool and the youth then went behind the bar and pulled a pint of lager.

He added that another youth aged about 14 or 16 was seen rolling a reefer in the club and another substance seized was amphetamine based.

The police officer said he saw a drugs transaction in the club toilets.

Mr Fairclough said: "Knowles should have known what was going on but he didn't".

Mr Walsh said that Knowles was a fit and proper person to run the premises now and in the future.

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