Issue - meetings
Full variation of premises licence at The Bell, 18 High Street, Bedmond
Meeting: 16/07/2024 - Licensing Sub Committee (Item 4)
4 Full variation of premises licence at The Bell, 18 High Street, Bedmond 
PDF 510 KB
The application is to vary the current
premises licence to allow live amplified music outside in the
garden area on Saturdays and Sundays, during the summer months
(July – September) between 14:00 – 17:00. This would
equate to approximately 13 weekends of outside performances.
The applicant is also seeking to remove the following restrictive
conditions:
"Annex 3 – Conditions attached after a hearing by the
licensing authority on 23 November 2005
1. No more than two musical performers are permitted inside the
premises at any one time.
2. No music, live or recorded, is to be played outside the
premises."
The intention of removing these conditions is a) to be permitted to
use the outside space at the premises for the performance of live
music as applied for and b) to allow more than two performers
inside the premises at any one time.
Valid representations have been received both objecting and
supporting the premises licence.
Additional documents:
- Appendix 1 - Location Plan, item 4
PDF 172 KB
- Appendix 2 - Location of residential properties, item 4
PDF 95 KB
- Appendix 3 - Application Form, item 4
PDF 1 MB
- Appendix 4 - Current premises licence, item 4
PDF 180 KB
- Appendix 5 - Specialist noise survey, item 4
PDF 877 KB
- Appendix 6 - Valid Objection, item 4
PDF 28 KB
- Appendix 7 - Valid Support, item 4
PDF 29 KB
Minutes:
Lorna Curtis, Lead Licensing Officer presented the report and outlined the application and the decision to be taken.
The Chair invited the Applicant to put their case to the Sub-Committee.
The Applicant stated that she was employed by the previous leaseholder who had bought the pub in September 2019. The Applicant was asked to manage the pub and had changed it from a nefarious establishment to a family orientated community hub. The Applicant left after 3 years after which the pub returned to its former state. The landlord sold the pub and the new landlord asked the Applicant to manage the pub again. The Applicant purchased the pub from him and managed once again to turn the pub into a family and community establishment that was part of the local Parent and Teachers association, donated money to the local school and arranged litter picks.
The Applicant felt that the application was a reasonable request and although she had applied for music through the summer months, would only have live music in the 6 weeks school holidays. The Applicant explained that it would not be particularly loud music involving bands with electric guitars and drums, rather a duo or background music and it would be well monitored. Having lived in the area for many years, she understood the local population demographic and needs of the local people.
The Chair asked the applicant if she accepted the recommendations of the noise surveys undertaken. The applicant said that she did.
The Chair asked how many customers were likely to be in the pub on a fine summers’ day. The applicant replied about 40-50 people.
Members asked how often the music events were likely to take place during the summer months. The Applicant confirmed that it would be during the six weeks holiday; from the last weekend in July to the first weekend in September. Usually on a Sunday and occasionally Saturdays.
Members asked the Applicant if she would be confident monitoring sound levels. The applicant confirmed that being entirely responsible for the pub this time round, she would be able to ensure that the noise levels were kept in check.
The Chair asked how neighbours could contact the Applicant if they deemed the noise levels too loud. The Applicant explained that she was always on site. An officer had advised the Applicant to put a notice on the door with contact numbers and a number of residents had the applicant’s Facebook details and mobile number already.
The Chair invited the interested parties objecting to the application to put their case to the Sub-Committee.
The points that were put forward by the objector included the following:
· The Objectors were direct neighbours whose garden backed on to the pub car park. Having lived alongside the pub for many years, they felt that having live music in the garden was a step too far.
· Customers in the car park and garden made a lot of noise and used foul language. They must keep their windows closed ... view the full minutes text for item 4