Owner's late-night mistake costs Hyde Square pub its license for two days

The Boston Licensing Board yesterday ordered a two-day suspension for the Haven, 2 Perkins St., because of an incident last month in which a police sergeant on routine patrol found the place open at 3:10 a.m. with the owner and a friend with a glass of beer inside.

At a hearing earlier this week, Sgt. Martin Kraft said he was driving through Hyde Square early on June 18, when he found a car poorly parked and turned the wrong way in front of the Haven. He said he was concerned the place was being burglarized, so he stopped to take a look. Instead of a burglar, he said, he spotted somebody "drinking from a glass." On entering the pub, he said, he found owner Jason Waddleton, who quickly moved to hide the glass, which Kraft said contained beer. He added he could not get a straight answer from Waddleton on whether the other man was an employee or not.

Waddleton and his attorney, Dennis Quilty, both apologized to the board and to Kraft. "I'm absolutely embarrassed to be here under these circumstances," Waddleton said. "It was a horrible mistake he made, and he apologizes" to both the board and the sergeant, Quilty said.

Waddleton said he stopped by the Haven on his way home just to pick up the night's receipts. He said he parked funny because the driver's side door on his car was busted and "I didn't expect to be long."

He acknowledged popping open a beer for his friend, but denied either had actually consumed any when Kraft arrived. Waddleton apologized for seeming uncooperative, but said "my mind was racing" and he was trying to protect his friend, who he said seemed to want to be more aggressive with the cop than he should have been.

Quilty pleaded for leniency, arguing that in addition to expressing his remorse, Waddleton has had a good record since he opened the Haven in 2010.

The board said serving a beer after hours and being uncooperative with the police warranted the two-day suspension. Waddleton can appeal the penalty to the state Alcoholic Beverages Commission or chose the two days on which to close.