The Licensing (Premises) Sub-Committee of Buckinghamshire Council was scheduled to consider an application for a new premises licence for Bernwood Park, Arncott Road, Boarstall, HP18 9XX. The meeting agenda also included procedural matters related to virtual hearings.

Application for a New Premises Licence at Bernwood Park, Boarstall

The primary focus of the meeting was to consider an application for a new premises licence for Bernwood Park, located at Arncott Road, Boarstall, HP18 9XX. The application was submitted by BHCS Magnolia Limited and sought to permit a range of licensable activities.

The proposed hours for the licensable activities included:

• Live Music & Recorded Music Indoors: Sunday to Thursday from 11:00 to 00:00, and Friday to Saturday from 11:00 to 01:00. Extended hours were also proposed from the start of permitted hours on New Year's Eve to the end of permitted hours on New Year's Day.
• Late Night Refreshment Indoors: Every day from 23:00 to 01:00.
• Sale of Alcohol On the Premises: Every day from 11:00 to 01:00, with extended hours for New Year's Eve. Room service for hotel guests was proposed to be available 24/7.
• Hours premises are open to the public: 24 hours a day.

The report pack indicated that the application had undergone the statutory 28-day consultation period. The Chief Officer of Police and the Fire and Rescue Authority had raised no objections. However, ten valid objections were received from any other persons on the grounds of the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, prevention of public nuisance, and protection of children from harm. The Local Planning Authority also raised no objection.

The Licensing Officer's observations highlighted concerns raised in the representations, including:

• Prevention of Crime and Disorder: Fears that late-night alcohol sales and music until 01:00 could attract visitors from outside the village, potentially leading to increased vehicle traffic and antisocial behaviour due to limited late-night public transport.
• Prevention of Public Nuisance: Concerns about proposed hours for music, alcohol sales, and customer dispersal, particularly regarding noise travel in the quiet rural location and potential disturbance to residents, with the premises being less than 170 metres from the nearest residential properties.
• Public Safety: Worries about increased vehicle and pedestrian movements in narrow, unlit rural lanes in the early hours.
• Protection of Children from Harm: Concerns that irregular late-night activity could lead to disturbance affecting children in the village.

The report also detailed the council's adopted Licensing Policy¹ and national guidance issued by the Home Office under Section 182 of the Licensing Act 2003², which outline the four licensing objectives: the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, the prevention of public nuisance, and the protection of children from harm. These policies emphasise the need for conditions to be appropriate and proportionate to promote these objectives.

The report outlined proposed conditions for the licence, covering the four licensing objectives, including requirements for CCTV, an incident log, staff training, and a Challenge 25 proof of age scheme.

The Sub-Committee was to consider these matters and decide on the options available, which included granting the licence with conditions, excluding certain licensable activities, refusing the application, or granting it with different conditions for different parts of the premises or activities.