A live entertainment venue has agreed draft conditions with Sussex Police, ahead of putting its case for a later licence.
Presuming Ed, in London Road, Brighton, wants to extend its performance and alcohol sales until 1am daily as well as expand the licensed area to the first floor.
Current restrictions on the 10-year-old business’s licence mean that customers cannot stand and drink and the venue can serve alcohol and food only until midnight each night.
At a Brighton and Hove City Council licensing panel hearing today (Friday 28 November), Sussex Police said that the proposed conditions would restrict the licence to Prez Ed Limited.
The company’s director, Richard Grills, 50, has operated the venue since it opened in 2015 and it was granted a drinks licence in 2016.
Sussex Police also proposed conditions requiring Presuming Ed to host events for the Brighton Fringe, Great Escape and Alternative Escape festivals and to maintain its memberships of the Music Venue Trust, Brighton Music Venue Alliance and the Fringe.
Substantial hot and cold food would have to be available until an hour before the venue closes.
Claire Abdelkader, from Sussex Police, saidthat the force was concerned about crime in the area.
In the year to October, 2,255 crimes were recorded out of 5,425 incidents that took place within a quarter of a mile of the venue.
Of the recorded crimes, almost half were theft and a quarter involved violence.
Ms Abdelkader said that the area analysed included Brighton railway station and The Level – and that Presuming Ed was considered a good operator.
When questioned by Mr Grills’s legal representative, Joanna Onisforou, Ms Abdelkader said that the only call to the force from Presuming Ed was linked to issues with a man in the street outside – and not to a customer at the venue.
Ms Abdelkader said that Sussex Police had worked with Mr Grills since August to make sure that any proposed premises licence conditions would be workable and appropriate for the business.
She said: “This does address some of the concerns that Sussex Police had around the change of operating style, eg, the introduction of vertical drinking, as well as the removal of the food café style waiter/waitress service set up.”
Ms Onisforou told the panel that Mr Grills had worked in the hospitality industry for 32 years and ran Marwood, in The Lanes, before opening Presuming Ed, in London Road.
He has completed Security Industry Authority training to enhance his knowledge and understanding of best practice when running a venue.
Ms Onisforou said: “The applicant (Mr Grills) is proud of the artistic and cultural nature of the premises and wishes to continue to develop this and requires further flexibility in running the premises as a mixed-use space.
“The statement of licensing policy supports entrepreneurial activity, promoting the city’s businesses and supporting growth of the creative industries sector.”
She said that the vision was for a community venue contributing to the cultural and artistic offering in the area which would promote inclusivity from film festivals to pop-up kitchens and theatrical events.
The business would continue to operate as a café and remote working space in the day. The first floor would be available for meetings, functions and exhibitions.
Mr Grills said that the venue attracted a wide range of people of all ages up to 90.
He said: “I’m incredibly proud of what we are building and I am really excited to move, to kick on.
“It probably sounds overly earnest and ridiculous but give us a shot.”
The panel – councillors Paul Nann, Sam Parrott, Ollie Sykes – retired to make a decision which should be made public within five working days.
