The report of the Director of Planning, Building Control and Licensing is enclosed.

The Hearing Panel considered a report from the Director of Planning, Building Control and Licensing concerning an application for a new Premises Licence application. The Hearing Panel considered the written papers of the parties submitted and the oral representations of the parties who attended, as well as the relevant legislation.

The Applicant attended the hearing as did a representative of the Licensing Out Of Hours team.

The Sub-committee noted that  the premises is located within the Withington special policy area however it considered it appropriate to depart from the policy for the following reasons. The premises is a small niche establishment which operates as a specialist coffee shop and wine bar. There are just 18 covers inside and a similar number of partrons can be accommodated in the external area. The Sub-committee considered the Applicant to be a responsible operator and heard that he had engaged with residents, local ward Councillors and key community organisations prior to making the application and they were supportive of the application. 

The Sub-committee noted that no objections were made by either GMP or local residents. The Sub-committee further noted that the premises had operated a number of Temporary Event Notices since opening, which included 4 or 5 jazz nights until 2 am without any complaints.   The Sub-committee accepted that the patrons largely comprised of local residents who supported the application. The Sub-committee was however mindful of the proximity of residential premises and in particular the likelihood of residents being disturbed by noise of patrons in the external area particularly in the quieter more noise sensitive hours and therefore considered it appropriate to restrict the presence of patrons in the external area to midnight on Friday and Saturday. 

In reaching its decision, the Sub-committee also took into consideration the Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy, the Licensing Act 2003, the Regulations made there under and the Guidance issued by the Secretary of State under Section 182 of that Act as well as the licensing objectives.

Decision

To grant the variation as set out below.

Hours for sale of alcohol for consumption on the premises.

Sunday-Thursday?????????11:00-22:00

Friday/Saturday ??????????11:00-00:30

Opening Hours

Sunday-Thursday????????? 08:00-22:30

Friday/Saturday???????????08:00-01:00

Condition 3.8 amended as set out below:

The external area shall be cleared of customers by no later than 22:00 daily with the exception of Friday and Saturday whereby it shall be cleared of customers by 00:00. ???????