The Licensing Sub Committee of North West Leicestershire Council is scheduled to consider an application to vary a premises licence for The Bull's Head in Ashby de la Zouch. The application seeks to extend the venue's operating hours and include an external area for the sale of alcohol. An objection has been lodged by the Ashby Civic Society, and representations have also been received from Leicestershire Police.

Application to Vary Premises Licence for The Bull's Head

The primary item for discussion at the meeting is an application from Ms Selina Wallis to vary the premises licence for The Bull's Head, located at 67 Market Street, Ashby de la Zouch. The proposed variations include extending the hours for the sale of alcohol on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays until 2:00 am, and incorporating an external bar in the beer garden.

The report pack indicates that an objection has been received from the Ashby Civic Society on the grounds of preventing public nuisance. The society has expressed concerns that excessive noise will be made at times and the very fact that the garden is open and that people can consume alcohol up to 2.00am outdoors seems antisocial especially to the people living nearby. ¹

Additionally, Leicestershire Police have made representations concerning the promotion of the licensing objectives, specifically the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, prevention of public nuisance, and protection of children from harm. The police note that the premises is located within a cumulative impact area and that the proposed extended hours and inclusion of the outdoor area could undermine these objectives.

To address these concerns, Leicestershire Police have proposed a series of conditions that they believe should be attached to the licence. These include:

• The supply of alcohol ceasing no later than 30 minutes before closing to the public.
• The installation of a high-definition CCTV system covering all public areas, with images retained for a minimum of 31 days.
• The deployment of Security Industry Authority (SIA) door supervisors on Saturdays from 10 pm until closing, with the premises conducting its own risk assessment for Friday security.
• The use of body-worn cameras by security or senior staff on Friday and Saturday evenings.
• The maintenance of an incident log detailing crimes, ejections, complaints, and CCTV faults.
• A Challenge 25 policy for age verification, with acceptable forms of identification including passports, photo card driving licences, or PASS-accredited cards.
• A restriction preventing children under 18 from being on the premises on Fridays and Saturdays from 10 pm until closing.
• Staff training on public safety campaigns such as Ask for Angela.
• Risk assessments for televised football matches shown on external screens and for outdoor events with an attendance exceeding 100 people.

The applicant, Ms Selina Wallis, has indicated agreement to these proposed conditions, as detailed in a signed agreement dated 7 May 2026. The committee will need to determine the application, potentially by granting it as requested, modifying the conditions, or rejecting it. The decision will be made with regard to the Guidance issued under section 182 of the Licensing Act 2003² and the council's own Statement of Licensing Policy 2024-2029³.