Agenda item

To consider a Temporary Event Notice for The New Philly, 68 Foxhall Road, Blackpool, FY1 5BL.

A. Application and representations submitted. To consider the attached report.

B. Determination of the Temporary Event Notice for The New Philly.

The Licensing Panel will indicate how the decision is to be communicated to interested parties.

The Licensing Panel considered an application for a Temporary Event Notice in respect of the New Philly, 68 Foxhall Road. The notice related to the provision of Regulated Entertainment on New Year’s Eve from 20.00 – 01.00 on New Year’s Day. The Premises Licence for the venue only permitted children to be admitted until 20.00. For the New Year’s Eve covered by the Temporary Event Notice the venue had requested that children are permitted to remain on the premises until 01.00. Lancashire Constabulary had objected to the event taking place on the grounds that it would undermine the licensing objectives, namely in relation to the Protection of Children from Harm.

Mr Nick Pritchard, Applicant, presented the application on behalf of the New Philly presented the application. Mr Pritchard highlighted that the premises was dedicated to family entertainment. That the normal operating hours were generally suitable but on New Year’s Eve many families wished to see in the New Year so the event would be an exceptional one . Mr Pritchard highlighted that the event would be ticketed with tickets only on sale to family groups. Mr Pritchard also emphasised that the premises had held similar events in 2019 and 2021 under Temporary Event Notices without any issues. In response to questions Mr Pritchard confirmed that at least two SIA registered door supervisors would be working on New Year’s Eve and that there would be no children on the premises unless accompanied by a responsible adult who had booked tickets in advance for the event.

PC Guy Harrison, Lancashire Constabulary, presented the objection on behalf of Lancashire Constabulary. PC Harrison explained that the Police shared the concerns expressed by Louise Scales, Child Protection Licensing Officer at Blackpool Council regarding people under 18 being in licensed premises after 8pm. In response to questions PC Harrison confirmed that there were virtually no reported incidents linked to the premises and the premises were generally operated well. PC Harrison confirmed that there were no incidents to the two previous Temporary Event Notices held over New Year’s Eve on previous years.

The Licensing Panel considered carefully the application and representation. While it considered the Licensing Objective of Protecting Children from Harm of paramount importance. It balanced this consideration with the nature of the event as an exceptional one with significant safeguards in place. The Panel noted that similar events had taken place in the past without any issues. The Panel considered that the application should be granted but agreed that condition 19 from the Premises Licence There shall be no persons under the age of 16 permitted on the premises after 20.00 unless they are accompanied by a responsible adult should be imposed on the Temporary Event Notice as this was in line with the proposed operation of the event outlined by the applicant and provided protection to children attending the event.

Resolved:

That the application for a Temporary Event Notice (TEN) for The New Philly, 68 Foxhall Road for 31 December 2022 be approved subject to the imposition of the condition from the existing Premises Licence outlined above.