The Corporate Director for Business Management reported upon an application that had been received from Whitts End Limited to vary a Premises Licence in respect of Whitts End Wine Bar, 43 Market Street, Hoylake, under the provisions of the Licensing Act 2003.

The premises currently have a Premises Licence with the hours outlined within the report.

The applicant submitted an operating schedule setting out how the business would be conducted/ managed in accordance with the four licensing objectives. Members were advised that the proposals set out in the operating schedule may become conditions of the Premises Licence should the application be granted.  A copy of the full application was available.

Four representations had been received from local residents.  A representation had also been received from the Hoylake Residents Group.  The representations related to concerns that should the application be granted nuisance would be caused by customers using the outside area.  Copies of the representations were available.

The applicants attended the meeting.

A local resident was in attendance to make representations on behalf of himself and also on behalf of other local residents.

The Licensing Manager confirmed that all documentation had been sent and received and that a petition and letters in support of the application had been distributed prior to the original scheduled hearing and provided a further copy for Members.

The Licensing Manager outlined the report.

The applicants addressed the Sub-Committee and advised that as local residents they work with local residents and the local community.  They reported that they had managed the premises opposite these premises and had never had any issues with noise disturbing neighbours.  They advised that the variation would be to allow drinking on and off the premises and also to allow people to drink in the outside area until 11.00 pm.  They stated that the premises were not overlooked by any residential properties and explained how the premises is operated and the measures that were currently in place to ensure that the Licensing Objectives were upheld which included soundproof doors being fitted, making recorded periodic checks outside the premises and checking the level of sound emanating from music.

The applicants stated that complaints about noise from the premises related to noise caused by another premises within close proximity to Whitts End.  The applicant did however inform Members that there had been an occasion in the summer when windows had been left open beyond 9.00 pm and that this had caused a nuisance to local residents.  The applicants referred to the letters and petition that supported the application and which stated that the conditions of the Premises Licence had been adhered to.

The applicants responded to questions from Members of the Sub Committee, the local resident and Miss V Silvester, Legal Advisor to the Sub Committee.

In response to questions, the applicants advised that the petition had been signed in the premises by customers of the premises.

The local resident informed Members that he was in attendance both representing himself and on behalf of other  ...  view the full minutes text for item 24