To receive apologies for absence.

To receive any details of Members nominated to attend the meeting in place of a Member of the committee.

There were no substitutes present at the meeting.

To receive declarations of interest in respect of items on the agenda.

To consider an application for a variation for a premises licence in respect of Marden Stores Restaurant, Marden, Hereford, HR1 3EW under the Licensing Act 2003.

Members of the Licensing Sub-Committee of the council’s Planning and Regulatory Committee considered the above application, full details of which appeared before the members in their agenda and the reports published on 30 September 2025 and supplement on 8 October 2025.

Prior to making its decision, the Senior Licensing Technical Officer presented the report which outlined the options available to the Sub-Committee.  No representations were received from the responsible authorities. One (1) relevant representation was received from a member of the public that the licensing authority accepted as being relevant.

The Sub-Committee then heard from the applicant’s representatives Mrs Dorinda Howells and Mr Wayne Jones that:

·       The applicant currently had 2 existing and valid licenses.  1 covered the sales for consumption off premises and the 2nd covered the sales for consumption on premises. The applicant wished to merge the two licenses in order for good housekeeping and to save the cost of maintaining 2 licences.

·       It was felt the condition stating alcohol must be consumed at a table was unreasonable and wished the condition to be revoked and replaced with the suggested new wording of “in the consumption area”.

·       The premise had never received complaints from any neighbouring properties and had a blemish free record of licenced activities at both the stores and restaurant.

Following questioning by the Sub-Committee, Mr Wayne Jones confirmed that:

·        Seating accommodated 24 people which took up the majority of the consumption area and there were no concerns with overcrowding should the license be granted.

·        The premise currently does not play music and had no plans in the future to play music or open their premise past 6pm. 

Having carefully considered those matters brought before them and in reaching their decision, the Members had full regard to both the provisions of the Licensing Act 2003 (as amended by the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006), the Guidance Issued under Section 182 and Herefordshire Council’s statement of licensing policy. 

DECISION

The Sub-Committee’s decision following an application to vary the premises licence is as follows:

The premises licence shall be varied in accordance with the submitted and consulted upon application.

REASONS

The Sub-Committee has fully considered the detailed report by Senior Licensing Officer Emma Bowell, the application and written representation in the report pack, as well as the evidence presented at the hearing by Mrs Dorinda Howells and Mr Wayne Jones on behalf of the Applicant.

The Sub-Committee has also taken into account the relevant policies and guidance.

The sub-committee carefully considered the written representation that had been received against the granting of the variation and took the relevant points made in the representation into account when hearing from the representatives of the applicant and when asking questions.

The Sub-Committee considered the submissions of Mrs Howells and Mr Jones and noted that the purpose of the variation was to improve the experience for customers and to allow flexibility in how the business operated. Mrs Howells was clear that the business had operated responsibly over  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.