Agenda item

            The Committee was advised that an application had been received for the variation of a Seven-day Annual Indoor Entertainments Licence in respect of the above?mentioned premises.  The Head of Building Control reported that, whilst the premises were licensed currently to provide entertainment from Monday to Saturday till 1.00 a.m. and on a Sunday till midnight, it was offered primarily on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights and took the form of either a DJ or a live band.  The variation had been sought to enable the premises to operate from Monday to Saturday till 2.00 a.m., which would permit it to compete with other venues which operated till that time.  The applicant had confirmed that, should it be granted, it was the intention that entertainment would be provided on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights and that the remaining three nights would be used for special occasions only.  

            The Head of Building Control informed the Members that no written representations had been received in relation to the application and that the Police Service of Northern Ireland had not objected. Since the current Entertainments Licence had been renewed, officers of the Building Control Service had conducted two inspections of the premises whilst entertainment had been taking place, neither of which had given rise to any issues. In addition, the Council’s Environmental Protection Unit had received no complaints over the course of the past year.

            He highlighted the location of the Errigle Inn in relation to residential properties in the area and pointed out that the Committee had, in the past, refused to vary Entertainments Licences for premises outside the City centre to enable them to offer entertainment beyond 1.00 a.m., due to the potential for noise disturbance and the fact that no other establishments in the area were permitted to operate till a later time.  However, it had agreed more recently, at its meetings on 21st August and 20th November, to vary Entertainments Licences for two premises outside the City centre to enable entertainment to take place till 2.00 a.m. on a limited number of nights.  Those decisions had taken into account the representations which had been made by the applicants regarding the unique nature of their premises and the need to ensure that local residents were not adversely affected by undue noise disturbance.

            The Committee agreed that it would be beneficial to obtain from the applicant further information on the proposed variation and, accordingly, Mr. P. McGurran was admitted to the meeting.

            Mr. McGurran informed the Members that he was seeking to provide entertainment in the Errigle Inn till 2.00 a.m. in order to enable it to enhance its service for tourists and also patrons attending venues such as the Ravenhill Rugby Ground.  That, in turn, would permit it to compete commercially with other premises in the City which operated beyond 1.00 a.m. and would create additional employment.  He reviewed the arrangements which were in place currently to address any issues which were raised by residents regarding the operation of premises and confirmed that, should the Committee agree to vary his Licence, they would be extended to include the additional hours.  

            In response to a question from a Member, he confirmed that he would be agreeable to the variation being granted initially for Friday and Saturday nights and for a trial period and requested that the Committee give consideration to including within the variation a number of Bank Holidays which fell outside those days.

            Mr. McGurran was thanked for being in attendance and he left the meeting. 

            After discussion, it was

      Moved by Councillor Attwood,

      Seconded by Councillor Ó Donnghaile and

      Resolved – That the Committee, in its capacity as Licensing Authority, agrees to grant, for a period of six months, a variation of a Seven-day Annual Indoor Entertainments Licence in respect of the Errigle Inn, 312-320 Ormeau Road, with entertainment being permitted to take place till 2.00 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights and on Bank Holidays.