Ilkeston pub linked to incidents and deaths, set to regain late night alcohol licence after previous restriction

The Market Inn pub in Ilkeston Marketplace. Image from Google.

By Eddie Bisknell – Local Democracy Reporting Service

A Derbyshire pub linked to dozens of incidents of crime and disorder, including two deaths, looks set to be allowed to sell alcohol until 2am, months after being restricted.

An Erewash Borough Council licensing hearing is due to take place on Thursday, March 19th, into plans from the Market Inn, in Ilkeston Market Place, to sell alcohol until 2am on Fridays and Saturdays.

This comes after the venue faced a full licensing review, brought by the police, after being connected with 63 incidents of crime and disorder within a year, including two deaths and 26 acts of violence.

On December 16th, 2023, 26-year-old Samuel Wilson was murdered after a man who had been drinking in the Market Inn drove a van into a group of people on the marketplace.

Meanwhile, on June 1st, 2025, 19-year-old Liam Derrett, from Kirk Hallam, was killed after intervening as a “peacemaker” in a brawl on the marketplace, which had started in the Market Inn.

Nestcare Ltd, owners of the Market Inn, had previously been allowed to sell alcohol until midnight on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, until 1am on Wednesday and until 2am on Fridays and Saturdays.

The review, sparked by Mr Derrett’s death, saw the venue permitted to keep its license with additional restrictions, with police at the time saying hours should be limited until midnight Sundays through Thursdays and 00.30am on Fridays and Saturdays, as most crime and disorder occurred between 1am and 3.59am.

Nine months later, another hearing is to take place to extend these Friday and Saturday hours back until 2am, with 22 people writing objection letters, but with no opposition from the council’s licensing team or the police, with extra conditions to be added.

Derbyshire police have said the venue would need to have a minimum of three licensed door supervisors on duty on Fridays and Saturdays from 11pm until close, with additional staff deployed as necessary.

The venue currently requires three members of door staff, but from 9pm onwards, two hours earlier, with the last entry at 11pm.

All of these staff must wear “distinctive” clothing to identify their roles, while door supervisors must wear high-visibility clothing.

The borough council has opted to redact the names of the victims in the opposition letters, but their names are a matter of public record following the conclusion of court cases relating to their deaths.

Objectors write: “The younger generation can move on to other locations, i.e. Nottingham or Derby, if they wish to do late-night drinking. I would not wish any friends or family to go through anything like the two deaths that was [sic] caused after late night opening and people fighting after drinking.”

“There seems to be a lot less trouble since the decrease in hours last year.

“I strongly believe Samuel Wilson would be alive today if the Market Inn wasn’t open until 2am on weekends.”

“For those of us who were personally affected, this is not just a bar, it is a site of serious trauma and loss. Extending the hours for alcohol sales and late night entertainment at this premises would be extremely distressing to victims’ families and friends, and risks further harm.

“Granting later hours sends the wrong message about accountability and risk management at a premises linked to such a serious incident.”

“For me and my family, this location is permanently associated with grief and trauma rather than socialising or entertainment. The thought of this premises operating later into the night, with increased alcohol sales and late night activity, is deeply upsetting and feels insensitive given what has happened there.

“It is difficult to understand how increasing alcohol availability at this location can be considered responsible or in the best interests of the community.

“For families and friends who have already suffered an unimaginable loss, this proposal feels like a reopening of old wounds rather than a step forward.”

“llkeston is a small town with a close community that has been hurt by the loss of two young men taken far too soon. Please consider this when looking into the appeal for later licensing hours.

“I think these later times negatively contribute to serving alcohol to people in the community who are well passed a safe or suitable limit.”