Police found machete and cocaine at the Waterlily in Ipswich

The Waterlily pub in St Helen's Street will have its licence discussed by the Ipswich Borough Council licensing committee on Friday, November 15.

The review comes after it was revealed three men were arrested at the premises on Saturday, October 19 over drug-related incidents.

Officers had received "numerous intelligence reports" that class A drugs, including cocaine and crack cocaine, were being sold at the venue, a report published before the meeting said.

On entering on October 19, along with the three arrests made, a search was carried out of the premises.

Four unattributed phones were seized behind the bar and within the kitchen/lounge area, "a quantity of cannabis in sealed deal bags and a large quantity of suspected cocaine in a black plastic knotted bag was located in the fridge" and on the floor was a large cased machete.

In one of the submitted documents from the police, the force said: "Of great concern is the fact that large quantities of drugs and a weapon was found in kitchen/lounge area and some even stored in the fridge which would seem to indicate involvement of staff/management.

"It should also be noted that some children were present in the venue and this presence in any situation involving the supply of controlled drugs is extremely disturbing."

Suffolk police is seeking a suspension of the premises licence with immediate effect and that the suspension should remain in place until a full hearing can take place.

At the meeting will be a councillor for the area who submitted resident concerns that the operation at the Waterlily "falls woefully short of the standards required of a public house", in contrast to the Dove further along the street which they have never had issues with.

There will also be the premises licence holder who will take questions and present their case and members from Suffolk police.

A decision will be made next week.

The Waterlily was contacted for comment.