A hotel bar which lost its alcohol licence after complaints of fights and noise nuisance is applying for a new one.
The West Beach Hotel on King’s Road had its licence revoked in September last year after a litany of complaints from residents, councillors and Caroline Lucas MP.
However, it is being allowed to continue to use the licence while an appeal, due to be heard by Brighton Magistrates’ Court, is pending.
Most of the complaints were about CuBar, which operated from the hotel bar of the premises opening out onto Preston Street, the part of the hotel which the new application covers.
The hotel is also making applications for its basement nightclub and its terrace restaurant.
But despite discussing ways to overcome the problems with council officers, its new application does little to address concerns and asks for alcohol to be served into the early hours.
A letter of objection from Caroline Lucas MP says: “I have been contacted by constituents on a number of occasions in recent weeks, who report occasions when problems have spilled out onto the street in the early hours of the morning causing noise nuisance and disturband as a result.
“Therefore I have little confidence that the situation is improving and things are being managed any better by the hotel.”
Brighton Police’s chief superintendent Stephen Whitton also objected, writing: “This new premises will give rise to negative cumulative impact. This is despite the fact that there are a number of new conditions being offered on the application . . .
“We also have concerns about the past conduct of the premises owners, their subletting of the basement to third parties, and their overseeing and control over the persons to whom they have sublet in view of subsequent ongoing problems requiring intervention by responsible authorities.”
Brighton and Hove City Council’s licensing and environment officers also objected to the application in its current form.
Suggestions to make it conform to council policy, most notably the designation of the city centre as a cumulative impact zone, include limiting hours to 11pm, installing air conditioning and restricting entrances.
And residents also urged the new licence bid to be rejected. One said: “It’s not just the loud music – but patrons are out on the street until all hours – this is completely unacceptable. Please help us restore this lovely area to its rightful condition.”
Another wrote: “Even though the licence has been lost and the Cubar has been shut I have still been disturbed by noise from their other venues which to me means they still have no regards for the residents and surprisingly their own hotel guests.”
The application will be heard by the city council’s licensing committee on Tuesday.
