The Licensing Hearing of Northumberland Council was scheduled to consider an application for a new premises licence for a McDonald's restaurant in Blyth. The application sought to extend the hours for late-night refreshment, which was met with objections from local residents concerned about public nuisance.

Application for Late-Night Refreshment at McDonald's, Blyth

The primary item scheduled for discussion was an application for a new premises licence for McDonald's Restaurants Ltd, located at 334 Cowpen Road, Blyth, NE24 5ND. The application, submitted by Shoosmiths LLP on behalf of McDonald's, requested permission for the licensable activity of Late-Night Refreshment on Fridays and Saturdays between 23:00 and 00:00.

Two objections were received from interested parties, citing concerns related to the prevention of public nuisance. These objections detailed issues such as litter, noise from vehicles and customers, and light pollution. One objector noted that the outlet had previously operated between 11pm and midnight without licensing approval, and that a previous application to extend hours to midnight seven days a week had been refused.

The report pack outlined the procedure for licensing hearings, including the election of a chair and the disclosure of members' interests. It also detailed the licensing objectives under the Licensing Act 2003¹, which are: the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, the prevention of public nuisance, and the protection of children from harm.

McDonald's, in their application, stated their commitment to promoting these objectives. They detailed measures such as a robust CCTV policy, a Staffsafe™ system, comprehensive staff safety training, and regular litter patrols. They also noted that their restaurants do not serve alcohol and that food and drinks are not served in glass receptacles.

The report pack also included information on the legal framework governing premises licences, including the Licensing Act 2003 and guidance from the Secretary of State. It outlined the potential determinations the sub-committee could make, including granting the licence with conditions, excluding licensable activities, or rejecting the application.