A bar in the centre of Brighton has applied to stay open until 4am at weekends and on bank holidays – an hour later than at present.
But Sussex Police have objected to the application by Revolution, in West Street, which currently has a licence from 10am to 3am seven days a week, with drink on sale until 2.30am.
Brighton and Hove City Council’s licensing team and safer communities team have also both objected to the application which was submitted by Revolution’s owner, Inventive Service Company Limited.
As a result of the objections, a council licensing panel is scheduled to decide the application and is due to meet next Tuesday (7 October).
Inspector Ben Morrison, from Sussex Police, said that the application was for “a limited variation” but he was concerned about the effect of later hours in the centre of Brighton.
Inspector Morrison said: “Offering additional licensable activity into the early hours encourages persons who may be already under the influence of alcohol or drugs to remain in the area which is at the heart of the night-time economy in Brighton (West Street).
“This increases the risk of crime and disorder, anti-social behaviour and public nuisance.”
Council licensing officer Corinne Hardcastle said that West Street was in Regency ward which had the highest crime figures for sexual offences and violence with injury.
Environmental health officer Chinwe Ihemefor (corr) said: “We are concerned that granting the proposal will mean neighbouring residents will have to bear an additional hour of disturbance from loud music / karaoke from your premises.
“Based on noise complaints we have received in the past and the most recent ones, it does not appear that you (Revolution) are currently managing the sound levels coming from your premises even with the existing conditions for the prevention of public nuisance on your current premises licence.”
Inventive Service Company Limited consulted Sussex Police before lodging the application and offered dozens of draft conditions as part of the licence application.
Among them, the rear courtyard and barbecue area would be limited to a maximum of 170 customers – and it would close at 9pm.
To prevent noise nuisance the draft conditions state: “Noise from amplified music or voices shall not be such as to cause a noise nuisance to occupants of nearby premises.
“No noise shall emanate from the premises nor vibration be transmitted through the structure of the premises which gives rise to a nuisance.”
Live or amplified music would not be allowed in the courtyard area.
The licensing panel hearing is due to take place online and is scheduled to be webcast from 10am next Tuesday (7 October).
“which currently has a licence from 10am to 3pm seven days a week,”
I’m sure you mean 3am otherwise they have one of the most restrictive licenses around!
But is there really any need for a premise to be open serving drinks until 4am?
Thanks Chris. That was my mistake when editing the story. Now corrected.
I grew up in Brighton and am now in my later years but I remember being able to drink 24 hours (both actually and legally!)
The joys of alcoholism!
Just let them all open 24/7 every 30 days evaluate who plays by the rules, cancel their licence if they won’t behave, no exceptions and it ensures self managed peace n quiet.
That’s a bad idea because it’s naïve about the law, unrealistic about enforcement, and unfair to residents. You’re mistaking licensing as some kind of free-market stress test when, in fact, the whole system is built to prevent exactly the issues your idea would unleash.
And how is that working out Benjamin. ?? even for repeat offenders they just re-apply via title change with future promises of better management behaviour, which lasts until the next time there’s a problem.
Stan, you’ve just confirmed why your idea fails, in your own words.
I think you missed the part ,,, cancel their licence. currently they keep getting renewed under different names on the same premises.
Licensing regulations were an emergency measure introduced in the early 20th century to ensure that workers, principally in the munitions trade, could make it to work in the morning. I don’t think that applies today and I think that the youth today are much more aware of their alcohol intake. Let them get on and have a good time in the city centre in the old Queen Anne.
I get the conflation; they have the same name, but DORA has nothing to do with modern licensing.
I remember the glory days of that being a place called Swifts. They had to wash the broken glass and blood off the pavement outside every day.
Nothing beats getting sloshed , get in a punchup then a doner and hitch back to Burgess Hill