The owner of a St. George's pub is taking measures to "try and keep the riff-raff out" after a string of violent outbursts rocked the Old Town in past months.

Freddie's Pub owner Allan Powell placed a notice in the Bermuda Sun last week which said a smart casual dress code would be enforced, "effective immediately".

"No construction work clothes, sleeveless shirts, bandannas, stocking caps, scull caps, and du-rags," the notice said. "This is not acceptable attire."

It also said that the management "reserve the right" to charge customers an entry fee of $5 and noted that anyone below the age of 21 would not be allowed into the bar.

Mr. Powell said: "We are just trying to upgrade our business and keep the riff-raff out. We can't Police the streets ourselves but we are just trying our best to stem the problems that are in St. George's at the moment."

He said he thought most of the attacks that happened were "drug related" and blasted the Police for not making their presence felt adequately.

"These people are allowed to rule the streets. I don't know how much more money we can afford to beef up security. We've already got three people and I might as well close up if I have to put any more money into it."

Mr. Powell said there were rarely any problems inside the pub but referred to a number of incidents which have happened in St. George's throughout the last few years.

Several vehicles, including a Police car, were firebombed last April while last month, King's Square was the scene of two violent confrontations, one of which saw a bouncer from Freddie's almost set on fire.

Asked about the new regulations, Mr. Powell said: "We are just putting them in to try and deter people who don't have any money and are not customers.

"If people have to pay five dollars to come in, they won't come in if they are just going to cause trouble."