Agenda item

            The Committee was advised that an application had been received from Mr. P. Bannon for the renewal and variation of a 7-day annual entertainments licence for the Beehive Bar based on the Council’s standard conditions to provide music, singing, dancing or any other entertainment of a like kind. 

            The Committee was advised that the area of the premises licensed to provide entertainment was the ground floor, with a maximum capacity of 280 persons.  The days and hours during which the premises were currently licensed to provide entertainment on the ground floor were Sunday 12:30p.m. – 12.00 midnight and Monday - Saturday 11:30a.m. – 1:00a.m. the following morning. 

            The Committee was advised that the premises operated as a public house with entertainment currently provided in the form of a disco on a Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  The nature of the variation was to increase the hours during which entertainment might be provided on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday night until 3.00a.m. the following morning. 

            The Committee was reminded that the normal process for dealing with Entertainments Licence renewals, which were not subject to objections, was that the Director of Health and Environmental Services would grant the licence as provided for within the Council’s Scheme of Delegation.  However, in light of the fact that the applicant had also applied for a variation to extend the hours of entertainment past 1.00a.m., both applications were being presented to the Committee for consideration.

            The applicant had stated that the variation to extend the permitted hours was required for the following reasons:

·         The industry was enduring hard times and it was a very competitive market;

·         A 3.00a.m. licence on the requested days would enable the venue to remain competitive within the market it was placed;

·         A 3.00a.m. licence would provide a unique selling point for the venue in the area it was located; and

·         It would also place the venue in a better position to compete on an even playing field with competitors within the Greater Belfast Area and the City Centre.

            In support of the application, the applicant had advised that he would employ extra door supervisors when entertainment was taking place and would have an arrangement with a local taxi company to help ensure patrons dispersed quickly after the bar closed.  Initially, the applicant was also proposing to only provide entertainment on Saturdays until 2.00a.m. and Sundays until 1.00a.m. if the variation was granted.  The Committee was informed that no written representations had been received in relation to the application and that the Police Service of Northern Ireland had not objected.

            It was reported that the applicant, Mr. P. Bannon, was in attendance and he was admitted to the meeting and welcomed by the Chairman. 

            In response to a question from a Member, Mr Bannon reiterated the reasons for requesting the variation to the licence.  In addition, he indicated that he was willing to accept, on a trial basis, lesser hours, that is, opening until 2.00a.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday and until 1.00a.m. on Sunday.  He outlined the types of entertainment which would be provided and requested the Committee to consider the application favourably. 

            The Chairman, on behalf of the Committee, thanked Mr Bannon for attending and he retired from the meeting.

            After discussion, it was

      Resolved – That the Committee, in its capacity as Licensing Authority, agrees to the renewal of the 7-day annual outdoor entertainments licence for the Beehive Bar, 193-195 Falls Road, and to the variation of the licence for a 6 month period, with entertainment being permitted to take place until 2.00a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights and 12 midnight on Sundays.