Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

None.

It was confirmed that all items were in Part I and would be considered in Public.

None.

INTRODUCTION

Jhini Mukherjee, Licensing Officer, introduced the application for the variation of a premises licence at Ruislip Manor Sports and Social Club to provide an additional external bar serving alcohol from 12:30 until 22:00 Monday to Saturday and 12:30 to 19:00 on Sundays. Five representations objecting to the application had been received; one representation from the Licensing Authority, one from the Council’s Anti-Social Behaviour Team, and three representations from local residents. The officer’s recommendation was to grant the application subject to conditions as appropriate to uphold the core licencing objectives. The Applicant had also proposed a list of conditions to the Premises Licence.

THE APPLICANT

Keith Walmsley, the Licence Holder’s Agent, addressed the Sub-Committee noting that the club was a hub for the local community and had been so for over 50 years. Wealdstone Football Club played their home matches at the ground attracting around 900 fans at their weekend games. The club had three internal bars and provided facilities for a wide range of occasions and functions in addition to football including live music, birthday parties, dance lessons, archery, weddings and business meetings. With regard to the variation to the licence being applied for, it was highlighted that any patrons wishing to consume alcohol outside would be restricted to the dedicated external patio area as shown on the plan provided in the agenda pack. Further to this it was noted that the external patio area had been in use for many years for anyone wishing to consume alcohol purchased at the club outside. Stewards would ensure that patrons drinking would only congregate at the appropriate patio area and not at the bar or the surrounding open area; Members wished to ensure that the stewards would monitor patrons drinking in the patio area and not just direct them towards the patio.

The reasons given for submitting the application to vary the premises licence were a need to provide safe and ventilated facilities for patrons in response to the Covid-19 pandemic; among a need for the club to spread its drinks supply capabilities to ease queuing at peak times during matchdays, although it was highlighted that they were not increasing venue capacity. The club had sought advice from the Licensing Authority and the Safety Advisory Group in 2021 as to how best to provide a small external bar with limited operating hours, and a meeting was held to that affect. An outcome of the meeting was that the Licence Holder had decided to replace the six vague conditions on the previous licence with 17 new conditions designed to show responsible management of the premises. Following this, risk assessments were undertaken and a decision was made to restrict the operating hours of the new external bar to 12:30 until 22:00 on Mondays to Saturdays, and 12:30 until 19:00 on Sundays.

Members queried the number of fans who attend home games, and wished to clarify the number of away fans which could attend. Nick Symmons, Director of Ruislip Manor Sports & Social Club,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.