Former Sotto boss admits he did serve drink to teen as bar's licence stripped A city council committee was told how Sotto on Wood Street had was like a 'school disco gone wrong' Sotto on Wood Street, Liverpool. (Image: Liverpool Echo ) The former owner of a city centre bar compared to “an unsupervised youth club” has admitted he sold a drink to an underage patron but rejected the suggestion it was a regular occurrence. Hours after it was stripped of its premises licence by Liverpool Council last week, Sotto on Wood Street announced it was to shut down with immediate effect. The local authority barred the business from selling alcohol last Wednesday after it was revealed staff had allowed amid multiple sales to children as young as 16. A lengthy hearing at Liverpool Town Hall was heard how over a period of months, multiple people under the age of 18 were able to access the venue unchallenged and purchase alcohol which was likened to a “school disco gone wrong” by officials. ‌ Stephen Charlesworth, who held the licence for the business, told the ECHO he had sold a drink to a 16-year-old test purchase volunteer but did not say if he had asked the boy for ID as it was during a private event for over 18s. Mr Charlesworth said he thought the teenager “looked young” but “any reasonable person” would have thought given his attendance he was old enough to buy alcohol. Last week, members of the council’s licensing and gambling sub-committee were told how on one occasion at the Wood Street bar, a 16-year-old girl was seen being carried out of the city centre premises unconscious having taken an unknown drug. Jenny Coyle, who works as a licensing officer at the Cunard building, said she had “never come across a premises as bad” as Sotto. The business had a licence held by Mr Charlesworth who operates a number of venues across the city. Mr Charlesworth was invited to attend the meeting by council officials but told them via email he had “done one to Madrid” and would not be appearing. Article continues below He told the ECHO he had made the move to Spain for treatment for stomach cancer two years ago. Mr Charlesworth, from Greater Manchester, added how he had sold the business in 2024. On Instagram on Wednesday evening, the venue confirmed it would not be reopening. A statement was posted which read: “To all our customers, we have closed down. Thank you for all your support.” Sotto on Wood Street, Liverpool. (Image: Liverpool Echo ) ‌ Sergeant Craig Carmichael, from Merseyside Police, told the three-person panel how an initial licence was granted for Sotto in April 2024. It first became known to the force in October of that year. Sgt Carmichael said Mr Charlesworth was spoken to about a number of people outside the premises drinking and a bench cited near the front door, in breach of the licence conditions. On October 18, an allegation was made of an assault in the bar involving a 17-year-old female who had accessed the premises. In December, intelligence was received from Merseyside Police’s missing persons unit that a young person under 18 they were seeking to locate was accessing the premises. ‌ Sgt Carmichael told the committee how a number of underage drinkers would attend Sotto and on December 4 last year, a 16 and 17-year-old were seen inside. When officers visited after Christmas, no identifiable door staff were on duty as people left the venue carrying drinks. Mr Charlesworth was said to be on duty behind the bar and claimed drinks had stopped being served after midnight, therefore he had not committed any breaches. He began arguing with police claiming they were “trying to kill hospitality in the city centre.” At 1.40am on December 27, 2024, a group of teenage girls flagged down police officers who were near Sotto. They were carrying out a 16-year-old girl who was drunk and unconscious, having taken an unspecified drug. ‌ Sotto on Wood Street, Liverpool. (Image: Liverpool Echo ) She was later taken to hospital. Sgt Carmichael also revealed how in January of this year, a registered sex offender was employed in a publicity position for Sotto and subsequently arrested. Mr Charlesworth told the ECHO the man in question was an independent promoter who worked for a number of bars in the city centre. Sgt Carmichael said the force was “deeply concerned” at how the premises operated, describing it as “an unsupervised youth club with alcohol freely available.” ‌ Ms Coyle said she undertook a test purchase with police and a 16-year-old volunteer in February this year. She said prior to the test, she entered the building and saw “something not right with the age profile of people drinking.” Ms Coyle said around 70% of those inside were underage. She described this as “extremely worrying” and likened it to a “school disco gone wrong.” The licensing officer said young people were seen to be “extremely intoxicated” with some passed out or asleep in the venue. The 16-year-old volunteer was sold two bottles of beer by Mr Charlesworth without being challenged for ID. ‌ Responding to the representations, Mr Charlesworth said: “Sotto was a busy live music venue that was offered to promoters for up and coming live bands. On that night we were let down by one promoter.” Sotto on Wood Street, Liverpool. (Image: Liverpool Echo ) Despite selling the business a year earlier, Mr Charlesworth said he present on the night of the test purchase as the licence holder but did not confirm if he had asked for ID. He said: “I did serve the test purchaser. ‌ “It was a private event, they paid on the door, they would have been challenged (for ID) there. I believed he was young but I believe a reasonable person would have thought he was over 18.” Mr Charlesworth said there was no evidence to suggest under 18s were regularly drinking in the venue and when asked if this was a common occurrence said: “I would reject that 100%.” He added: “Some of the things that have been said have not been backed up at all. I had radiotherapy in Madrid and management have not run it very well, that’s what happened.”