Now contains further information from the Gambling Commission website regarding Bingo and an Indicative Layout Plan from the applicant.

Consideration was given to a report of the Director of Planning, Building Control and Licensing regarding a New Gambling Premises Licence.

The Hearing Panel considered the written papers, oral representations of all parties as well as the relevant legislation and guidance.

The applicant’s agent addressed the Hearing Panel and informed them that the application was for a modern Bingo and Gaming machine premises located at Piccadilly Gardens. The agent stated that the premises had been closed since 2016 and that a planning application had been granted in 2018 for a mixed use premises, informing the Hearing Panel that the upper floors were to be a hotel and that the lower floor was to house the Gambling premises with the addition of a mezzanine. It was mentioned that the applicant currently held a Bingo licence since 2009 and had operated in the North East for the last 9 years. Two types of Bingo machines would be available, static and tablet devices that would link up to a national Bingo game with a large prize fund. The agent expressed that the indicative layout in the agenda would need to be flexible so as to cater to the needs of customers once the premises had opened, subject to the application being granted. It was stated that alcohol was not a request of this application and that a Challenge 25 and no under 18s policy would be adhered to. The agent confirmed that GMP had no objections, that LOOH recommended granting the application subject to agreements with their conditions, adding that no representations had been received from Local Ward Councillors, local residents or businesses.

During questioning it was raised that the business next door to this proposed premises was a gambling establishment and the applicant confirmed that the two premises would share information regarding persons who had self-excluded themselves from gambling via a national database.

The Principal Licensing Officer requested that the Hearing Panel consider whether the functions, risks and signage/frontage were acceptable, giving mention to Piccadilly Gardens as a very transient area with known street crime and other gambling premises already in situ.

In their deliberations the Hearing Panel felt that this was a responsible operator, already running in the North East, working closely with the authorities and other gambling premises. Whilst the applicant would be new to the Manchester area, the Hearing Panel felt certain that they would work closely with the Local Authority and felt it appropriate to grant the licence subject to conditions already agreed.

Decision

To grant the licence subject to conditions and for the applicant to note that they are invited to:

1. Liaise with the Premises Licensing team on completion of the gaming machine layout
2. Join the NiteNet scheme