Agenda and draft minutes

Resolved: That Councillor Scott be appointed Chairman for the meeting.

Members are asked to declare any interests in the items under consideration and in doing so state:-

(1) the type of interest concerned

(2) the nature of the interest concerned; and

(3) whether they have or have not sat on a Planning Committee which has previously considered a planning application in respect of a licensed premises which is also subject to consideration for a premises licence as part of the agenda for this meeting.

If any Member requires advice on declarations of interests, they are advised to contact the Head of Democratic Governance in advance of the meeting.

(Members are asked to also pay particular attention to the guidance sheet on interests supplied with the agenda).

There were no declarations of interest made on this occasion.

The Chairman explained the procedure for the meeting, including the order in which the applicant and objector would be heard and that the decision of the Panel would be communicated in writing within five-working days.

To consider an application to vary Premises Licence PL2086 issued in respect of The Lawton Hotel, 58-68 Charnley Road, Blackpool, FY1 4PF.

The Panel considered applications to vary Premise Licences at the Lawton Hotel, 58-68 Charnley Road, Blackpool, FY1 4PF and The Beechfield Hotel, 106-110 Hornby Road, Blackpool, FY1 4QS.

Mr Mark Woosnam, on behalf of the applicant, accompanied by Mr Darren Wilkinson (the applicant) outlined the case for approving the application. Mr Woosnam informed the Panel that the application had been developed in consultation with Lancashire Constabulary and the Council’s Environmental Health and Environmental Protection teams. He noted that none of these had objected to the application and added that Mr Wilkinson and the hotels had never been the subject of a licensing review. The hotels themselves were described as large and busy, catering for up to forty-two thousand guests a year and employing up to fifty-five people, although it was highlighted that the lockdown imposed as part of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic had meant that fewer had been retained during 2020. Mr Wilkinson was also noted to have invested in improving both hotels through the installation of CCTV, Superfast Broadband and the expansion of the car park at the Beechfield Hotel to accommodate both guest and pay and display day visitors.

It was explained that the application had been submitted, in part, to standardise the licensed hours at the two hotels which were both owned by Mr Wilkinson. This would make it easier for staff to operate at both locations. Mr Woosnam also stated in response to objections raised in the written submissions contained within the agenda that the extended licencing hours and the hours where live music could be played did not constitute the hotels seeking to operate as ‘nightclubs’. He explained that the changes were intended to attract members of the public to the hotels to dine in their restaurants and enjoy live entertainment. It was also detailed that the early drinking hours in the application which would allow the purchase of alcohol from 7.00am, would be restricted to those also purchasing a breakfast in the hotel between the hours 7.00am to 9.00am.

Mr Woosnam stated that Mr Wilkinson took the responsibility of holding Premises Licences very seriously and was aware of the serious consequences of breaching any conditions imposed. He added that the hotels core business was there guests and that it was not in Mr Wilkinson’s interest to allow members of the public accessing the hotels to disrupt their experience. Mr Woosnam also stated that the applications would be similar to the Premises Licences held by other hotels in Blackpool.

The Panel queried what musical entertainment currently took place at the hotels. In response Mr Woosnam explained that none currently took place at the Lawton Hotel and it was permitted until 12.00am at the Beechfield Hotel. He added that the application, if granted, would allow entertainment until 2.00am at both hotels, but that it was not foreseen that it would be regularly needed up until this time.

Members of the Panel also asked how Mr Wilkinson intended to control access to the hotels with  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.