Five Stags bar in Leamington, known for its hunting-themed decor, is facing an uncertain future due to multiple reports of intoxication and disorderly behaviour over the past three years.
Police, the licensing inspector and the Medical Officer of Health are opposing the renewal of Five Stags in Leamington’s liquor licence. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Founded in 2012 as a family-friendly bar and restaurant, Five Stags has fallen foul of the police, the Medical Officer of Health and the Liquor Licensing Authority.
Cambridge News 8 May 2025
Their reports highlight 15 incidents and includes one where a minor bought alcohol and was then involved in a driving offense and another where the bar failed a controlled purchase operation.
Two years ago, owner Matt Palmer’s manager’s certificate was suspended for 28 days and the on-licence for the bar for five days.
Waipā District Licensing committee commissioner Tegan McIntyre says these reflect poorly on the tavern’s suitability.
A public hearing will be held in the council’s Cambridge Service Delivery Centre tomorrow (Friday) from 10am.
It is the second Waipā bar named Five Stags to face alcohol licensing problems. In Pirongia, the community has been dry for a year after the Franklin Street bar and restaurant operator Night Pearl lost its licence for selling to a minor.
And earlier this year Cambridge Raceway came close to losing its licence after authorities opposed its application on the grounds it and chief executive Dave Branch were “unsuitable candidates” to hold a licence.
Opposition was withdrawn after a two-day hearing and the Raceway licence issued as well as a special one for last month’s Night of Champions.
Matt Palmer told The News he would be represented by Hamilton lawyers Harkness Henry and their alcohol licensing specialist Anna Suckling.
“I know the seriousness of it in terms of the harm alcohol causes in the community,” he said. He has held a manager’s certificate for 24 years.
“It’s my livelihood.”
But he does question the length of time it has taken to get to the hearing stage.
The Waipā District Licensing Committee during an earlier hearing this year, from left Michael Cameron, Tegan McIntyre and Marcus Gower. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
Palmer applied for the licence on November 27, 2022, has been operating on a temporary licence ever since and is six months away from having to apply again.
It would be unacceptable if he was a day late with his application, yet he had to wait “years to get to this,” he said.
“I’d love to be working closely with the authorities to avoid any of us having to get to these situations,” said Palmer who blamed post Covid conditions, where it was hard for hospitality to get staff, for some of the issues.
In the intervening period he said he had worked with his staff, improved training and now used a security company who police had a good relationship with.
“So right from the very first indiscretion we didn’t just close our eyes and pray for the incident to go away. We took every incident very seriously.”
But the licensing inspector says formal measures have not been implemented to prevent or manage the incidents and questioned whether the systems and staff training were adequate.
Pirongia’s Five Stags
McIntyre said in her direction to District Licensing Committee secretary Karl Tutty she and the committee were not satisfied the application for renewal was in keeping with object of the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act.
“The number and seriousness of the incidents reported paints a bigger picture and we would like to meet… to better understand their systems and staff training and why the incidents continue to occur,” she said.
The direction said there had been ongoing problems such as broken glass, litter, theft, burglary, side-loading in the car park and breaches of the liquor ban which were negatively affecting the amenity and good order of the locality.
The outcome of the hearing will determine whether Five Stags can continue operating under its current license or face further restrictions.
Waikato District Police area prevention manager David Hall said getting to a hearing stage was a last resort, but the issues needed to be resolved.
Companies Office records show Leamington Tavern (2012) Ltd, trading as Five Stags, is jointly owned by Eljayej Holdings Ltd, which has 84 per cent of the shares through Les and Elayne O’Leary of Tokoroa, who are also the directors.
The couple developed the Leamington shopping centre which has a supermarket, restaurants, mixed use accommodation and the bar.
Palmer owns 16 per cent of the Leamington Tavern shares.
Police, the licensing inspector and the Medical Officer of Health are opposing the renewal of Five Stags in Leamington’s liquor licence. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Police, the licensing inspector and the Medical Officer of Health are opposing the renewal of Five Stags in Leamington’s liquor licence. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
