1 week Ago By [email protected] (Kerry Ashdown)
A canal-side pub in Staffordshire will be allowed to hold up to six event days a year on its car park - but all outside entertainment will have to end by 9pm. The Hartley Arms' request to licence its car park for occasional large scale events initially met with objections from South Staffordshire District Council's Environmental Protection team and a local councillor. The authority's Licensing Sub-Committee was due to consider proposed variations to the Wheaton Aston pub's premises licence at a hearing this week which also included an extension to the seating space at the back of the pub and an outside bar area.
But a series of conditions were agreed beforehand to allow the changes, so the hearing was no longer needed. The number of large scale external events using the car park space will be limited to six days a year and regulated entertainment taking place externally must end by 9pm each day. For each large scale event, an Event Management Plan (EMP) must be filed with the licensing authority no later than three months before the event is due to take place.
The application stated: "The premise was formerly tenanted and has now reverted back to Marston’s PLC. It is noted that the licence has not been subject to change for a considerable number of years. "The use of the external area is to be enhanced with licensable activities being undertaken externally.
No change is sought in relation to the licensable activities or hours of operation, save that licensable activities in relation to recorded music, live music, performance of dance and films are sought to be permitted externally. "No additional conditions are proposed, the premises having operated without issues arising for a considerable period of time." The Long Street pub is currently permitted to serve alcohol until midnight Monday to Thursday and 1am at weekends, with closing time half an hour later.
The council's Environmental Protection Team had previously called for licensable activities taking place outside to end no later than 11pm Monday to Friday and 10pm on Sundays and bank holidays if the premises licence variation was allowed. Councillor Rob Nelson, who represents the Lapley, Stretton and Wheaton Aston ward, raised concerns about issues that may arise if the variation for the outside area was allowed without any conditions. He said: "I am concerned that should the variation be allowed without any restrictions regarding the time or conditions for the use of the outside area local residents, especially in the new house estate and/or boaters who are moored on the canal, both adjacent to the Hartley Arms, will be disturbed by customers/noise of the pub using the outside patio/garden and buying alcohol from the outside bar.
"I would like to see the Hartley Arms in Wheaton Aston do well as a business. It is a popular social venue within the village and is striving to do well with so many public houses closing in these times." Get daily headlines and breaking news emailed to you - it’s FREE.
