LARGE groups of binge drinkers descending on York from the north east for a boozy Saturday are a “blight on the city” a York landlord has said.

Shaun Collinge, landlord of The Maltings, agreed with concerned traders from Micklegate who spoke to The Press last week about problems there with a growing number of stag and hen parties visiting York, and said the issue affected other areas of the city centre.

He said his pub, in Tanner’s Moat, which specialises in real ale and continental beers, has had to employ security staff all day on a Saturday to cope with the increase in large groups visiting The Maltings on their way into the city centre.

Mr Collinge said most groups were looking to get drunk as quickly and as cheaply as possible. As a result, they would usually would stay for one drink and leave because The Maltings does not serve the drinks they want or offer cheap promotions.

He said: “They have no respect for anything or anybody and they have a pack mentality when there are ten or 12 of them out.”

He said the aggression was generally verbal when they were asked to adhere to the pubs no-swearing and no-singing policies, and they intimidated regular customers.

He said: “I feel sorry for people who take this beautiful city for what it is and get a bunch of morons who just want to get drunk as quickly as possible and as cheaply as possible. It’s a blight on our city.”

Coun Dafydd Williams, cabinet member for crime and stronger communities, said there was no evidence from reported incidents that it was a growing problem in York.

He said: “York will be as tough as it can be in terms of enforcement of alcohol misuse. But there is a limit to what can be achieved by enforcement alone and a cultural change is needed in how we as a society use alcohol.”

First TransPennine Express said alcohol was banned from its 7.27pm and 8.28pm York to Middlesbrough trains on Saturdays, the only services the company has to make alcohol free.

It also deploys additional staff and security officers to police the service, it said.

Meanwhile, a new scheme to reduce and prevent crime and antisocial behaviour in York’s nighttime economy held its first meeting yesterday.

Chairman Chris Bateman said publicans taking part in York Pubwatch agreed to share information with the police and discussed issues such as crime statistics and how working closely together could help reduce problems and ensure York continued to offer a great social experience within the licensed trade.

Mr Bateman said: “We had a really great turnout at the meeting and have had positive feedback for the scheme from licensees in the city. Several venues have signed an information sharing agreement with North Yorkshire Police which is fantastic, and several key topics have been discussed by the group.”

The next meeting will be held at 2pm on November 6 at Kuda Nightclub in Clifford Street. Licensees should emailing York Pubwatch secretary Adele Lord on adele@tokyoindustires.co.uk for further information.