Agenda item

To consider an application to vary a premise licence for the Mardi Gras Hotel, 41-43 Lord Street, Blackpool, FY1 2BD.

The Panel considered an application to vary a Premises Licence for the Mardi Gras Hotel, 41-43 Lord Street, Blackpool, FY1 2BD.

The applicant, Mr John Street, owner Mardi Gras Hotel, accompanied by Ms Angela Baddley and Ms Frances Joyce (Legends Hotel) and Mr Stephen Blanchard (previous owner of the Mardi Gras), outlined the case for approving the application. Mr Street stated that he had taken ownership of the hotel in February 2020, before which it had been closed for approximately two and a half years. They also informed the Panel that since taking ownership they had undertaken extensive renovations to improve the hotel and raise its profile as a safe venue for members of the LGBTQ+ community, in particular those in the Trans community. He further emphasised that the hotel would not be a ‘party’ location and that the application would prevent the sale of alcohol after 12.30pm and ensure the outside terrace would close at 10.00pm. To ensure that the hotel was a safe place to visit Mr Street explained that wide-angle CCTV cameras had been installed.

Ms Frances Joyce, owner of the Legends Hotel, added that she and Ms Baddley, operated the neighbouring Legends Hotel and had no objections to the application. Mr Blanchard added that he believed Mr Street to be a responsible owner and would look after the hotel.

The Panel queried how Mr Street would prevent alcohol being taken outside of the venue after 10.00pm. In response he explained that the new CCTV cameras would allow staff to monitor activity outside of the hotel and act if anyone was not complying with the rules.

Mr Tim Allen, on behalf of the objectors, asked what had been done, if anything, to reduce noise nuisance from entertainment from the hotel and how it would be separated from the hotel’s bar area. Mr Street responded that entertainment would be conducted in a separate room from the bar. He added that there were no current plans for regular entertainment and that if undertaken in future it would be low volume in nature.

The coverage of the new wide angle CCTV cameras was also queried by Mr Allen. In response Mr Street explained that the cameras would cover Lord Street, to the front of the hotel, twenty-four hours a day and that they would make them available to the Police if needed.

Mr Allen, representing Ms Ashley Harris (Rubens Hotel) and Councillor Ivan Taylor (Ward Member) outlined their objections to the application. Mr Allen stated that the noise nuisance from the hotel could potentially be created and that the thin nature of the buildings walls would mean that it negatively impacted on neighbouring properties, making the hotel unsuitable as a public bar. Although the objectors welcomed the installation of wide-angle CCTV cameras they expressed concern that late night drinking at the hotel could lead to instance of crime and disorder. Therefore due to the creation of public nuisance through noise and the potential for crime and disorder Mr Allen stated that the application should be refused.

Councillor Taylor added that granting the application to vary the Premises Licence would set a precedent that could lead to other hotels in the area having similar late opening hours. He expressed the view that the application presented a threat to an area that already experienced a high rate of crime and would negatively impact on other local businesses, as it would allow members of the public, who were not hotel guest in to drink. It was explained that in his opinion the hotel had less control over members of the public as opposed to guests staying there. Due to the potential for crime and disorder that could result from the application, and the resulting negative impact on the area, Councillor stated that application should be refused.

The Panel considered the representation made by the applicant, supports and objectors and agreed that they concerns raised by objectors had been addressed by the conditions attached to the Premises Licence. It was also noted that the existing Premises Licence for the Mardi Gras Hotel had less restrictive conditions than the variation would impose.

Resolved:

To grant the application to vary a Premises Licence for the Mardi Gras Hotel, 41-43 Lord Street, Blackpool, FY1 2BD.