A seafront wedding and events venue’s bid for a premises licence will come before Isle of Wight councillors next week amid concerns over noise, disturbance and safety.
An application for Commodores House at 74 High Street in Cowes is due to be considered by an Isle of Wight Council licensing sub-committee at County Hall on Tuesday 16th June.
Council officers are recommending the licence be granted in line with the proposal, subject to any amendments to operating hours or additional conditions deemed ‘reasonable and proportionate’ to promote the licensing objectives.
A premises licence authorises the sale or supply of alcohol, regulated entertainment and late-night refreshment under Section 18 of the Licensing Act 2003.
A report prepared ahead of the meeting says the decision to apply for a premises licence followed discussions with the council’s licensing team last year.
“The grant of a premises licence will permit activities that have been taking place for many years, which have essentially been unregulated by way of conditions, to continue, but now subject to multiple control measures which are legally enforceable.”
A previous hearing on the application was adjourned last month in accordance with the Licensing Act 2003 (Hearings) Regulations 2005.
Minutes from that meeting state that, due to the timing of local government elections, the rearranged hearing could be determined by a differently constituted committee.
During the consultation period between 19th March and 15th April, concerns were raised over noise and disturbance, the movement of equipment and supplies, potential anti-social behaviour and the safe evacuation of large numbers of people should the rear exit no longer be available.
Issues were also raised over the safety of equipment being brought into the venue, accessibility for wheelchair users, staff facilities and a perceived lack of privacy.
Cowes Town Council raised no objection to the application.
The committee report notes that the applicant has revised the proposal since it was first submitted, reducing the requested operating hours.
Regulated entertainment, which had originally been sought until 23:30, has since been removed from the application, along with late-night refreshment.
The only licensable activity now being sought is the sale of alcohol between 09:00 and 23:00 each day.
Any music taking place before 23:00 would instead fall under the provisions of the Live Music Act 2012, subject to a premises licence being granted for the sale of alcohol.
Conditions agreed with the council’s Environmental Health department require a dispersal policy to be implemented to encourage customers to leave the premises ‘quickly and quietly’.
Signage will also have to be displayed on the quay reminding patrons that the area is residential and asking them to ‘behave accordingly’.
Customers leaving the premises to smoke after 22:00 will not be permitted to take drinks outside with them.
The applicant has also agreed conditions with Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary, including the installation and operation of a CCTV system whenever the venue is open to the public.
Council officers highlighted confirmation from police that only 1 incident relating to Commodores House has been reported in the past 3 years.
They also noted that the venue does not operate on a daily or weekly basis throughout the year, with the applicant stating that most events take place between May and September.
On concerns relating to disabled access and facilities, the report states these matters are ‘not relevant’ under licensing legislation.
The licensing sub-committee will meet at County Hall at 10:00 on Tuesday 16th June.
