The Licensing Sub-Committee of Bath and North East Somerset Council is scheduled to consider an application to vary the premises licence for HQ, located at 1 Barton Street, Bath. The committee will also review the licensing procedure and minutes from previous meetings.

Application to Vary Premises Licence for HQ

A significant item on the agenda is the application to vary the premises licence for HQ, located at 1 Barton Street, Bath. The applicant, Rosh Limited, seeks to extend the permitted hours for licensable activities and the opening hours of the premises to 24 hours a day. This extension is primarily intended to accommodate major international sporting events that occur outside of normal UK trading hours, such as rugby, cricket, football, the Olympics, boxing, UFC, and US sporting events like the Super Bowl. The applicant has offered additional measures to promote the four licensing objectives, including staff training, CCTV, the use of SIA registered door supervisors for selected events, Challenge 25 policies, and maintaining incident/refusal records.

However, a representation of objection has been received from the Police, who are a responsible authority under the Licensing Act 2003. The Police express concerns that the proposed 24-hour licence could undermine the licensing objectives of preventing public nuisance and crime and disorder. They argue that the extended hours could lead to increased crime, anti-social behaviour, and noise disturbance, particularly between 02:00 and 06:00. The Police note that no additional conditions have been proposed to address these risks and suggest that the premises could become a late-night destination for intoxicated individuals after other venues have closed. They question whether occasional sporting events justify a permanent 24-hour licence, suggesting that Temporary Event Notices (TENs) could be used for such occasions. The Police also highlight that the premises is currently undergoing a change of ownership and refurbishment, meaning there is limited operational evidence regarding the new operator's management, especially during early hours. They recommend refusing the application for a 24-hour licence and retaining the existing 02:00 terminal hour, or alternatively, considering a more limited extension with stringent conditions.

The committee will need to consider the application in light of the Licensing Act 2003, the Council's Licensing Policy, and the Statutory Guidance issued under Section 182 of the Act. They will also consider the Human Rights Act 1998.

Licensing Procedure

The committee is scheduled to review the licensing procedure. This procedure outlines how applications for new premises licences and variations are heard, including the allocation of time for applicants, objectors, and responsible authorities to make representations, ask questions, and summarise their cases.

Minutes of Previous Meetings

The minutes from the previous Licensing Sub-Committee meetings held on 13th October 2026 and 22nd October 2026 are also scheduled for review. These minutes would detail any decisions made and discussions held at those earlier meetings.