To consider an application for a review of the premises licence relating to the Hop Pole, 9 The Square, Bromyard, HR7 4BP.

The Regulatory Sub-Committee was convened in order to determine an application for a review of a premises licence in accordance with Section 51 of the Licensing Act 2003. The Review had been applied for by West Mercia Police after complaints had been received from local residents.

The Chairman introduced the Members and Officers and asked any interested parties to introduce themselves. He advised them of the hearing procedures and then asked the Licensing Officer to present his report.

In accordance with the Licensing Act 2003 (Hearings) Regulations 2005, PC John Meek, representing West Mercia Police who had applied for the review, addressed the sub-committee. He made a number of points, including:

• The review had been requested following public complaints in respect of the premises.
• Mr Alan William Jones had been designated as DPS in March 2009.
• Premises had moved from a food based establishment to an entertainment based public house, attracting a younger cliental.
• Since March 2009 there had been a number of complaints received.
• A disco ceasing at 1:00 am had been the subject of complaints from local residents.
• Concerns had been raised in respect of a lack of ventilation and a lack of security staff at the premises.
• Mr Alan William Jones had now been removed as the Designated Premises Supervisor for the public house.
• Between April and June 2009 12 calls had been made to the police in respect of the premises, the calls had been made between 12:30 and 1:45 am.

In response to questions raised by the Sub-Committee, PC Meek made the following points:

• There had been no discos held at the premises since the new DPS had been in place.
• There was an alcohol ban outside the front of the premises.
• There were a number of public houses in the vicinity.

In accordance with the Licensing Act 2003 (Hearings) Regulations 2005, Mrs Silver addressed the sub-committee in support of the request for a review. She made a number of points, including:

• She was the DPS of the nearby Falcon Hotel.
• Sound carried from the Hop Pole and caused a nuisance to residents of the Falcon Hotel.
• All music should cease at midnight.
• The situation had improved recently as the premises were closing at 11:00 pm at the latest.

In accordance with the Licensing Act 2003 (Hearings) Regulations 2005, Mr Phipps, the premise licence holder’s Legal advisor, addressed the sub-committee. He raised a number of points, including:

• The previous position of the public house was regrettable and was not in dispute.
• The previous DPS had repositioned the public house to appeal to a younger cliental.
• There had been issues of noise disturbance caused by discos.
• The DPS had been removed at the request of the police with a new DPS appointed.
• The new DPS was keen to change the approach of the public house back to a food led establishment with some entertainment.
• If a decision was made to reduce the licensing hours to 11:00 pm and to remove entertainment from the licence the premises would have to close.
• The problem are of the premises had been addressed.

All parties were given the opportunity to sum up before the Sub-Committee retired to make their decision, the Council’s Legal Advisor and the Democratic Services Officer also retired to assist them with legal and procedural matters.

RESOLVED

That the premise licence in respect of The Hope Pole, 9 The Square, Bromyard, HR7 4BP, be amended as detailed in the attached decision notice.