The Licensing Sub Committee of North Tyneside Council met to consider an application for a variation of a premise license. Councillor Matthew Thirlaway was scheduled to be appointed as Chair for the meeting. Councillors were invited declare any interests in the matters appearing on the agenda.

Gibraltar Rock, East Street, Tynemouth

The sub-committee was scheduled to consider a premise license variation application for Gibraltar Rock, 2 East Street, Tynemouth, NE30 4EB. The applicant is The MCN Collection Limited.

The application seeks to:

• Remove embedded conditions
• Add new conditions
• Extend licensable activity hours on Fridays and Saturdays (and New Year's Eve) to 01:00
• Add late night refreshment on Sundays (23:00-23:30)
• Amend closing time hours to show an extra 30 minutes beyond the terminal hour for licensable activity
• Submit new plans to show the first floor restaurant/function room and proposed outside areas at ground floor
• Add regulated entertainment each Friday, Saturday and New Year's Eve

The report pack notes that representations were received from two interested parties, included as Appendix 4 Redacted.

Current and Proposed Hours

The application seeks to amend the premises licence to supply alcohol (both on and off the premises) as follows:

• Monday to Thursday: 11:00 to 00:00
• Friday and Saturday: 11:00 to 01:00
• Sunday: 11:30 to 23:30
• New Year's Eve: 11:00 to 01:00

The current alcohol hours are:

• Monday to Saturday: 11:00 to 00:00
• Sunday: 12:00 to 23:30

The application also seeks to add recorded and live music as follows:

• Friday and Saturday: 23:00 to 00:00
• New Year's Eve: 11:00 to 00:30

The application also seeks to amend the provision of late night refreshment as follows:

• Monday to Thursday: 23:00 to 00:00
• Friday and Saturday: 23:00 to 01:00
• Sunday: 23:00 to 23:30
• New Year's Eve: 23:00 to 01:00

The current provision of late night refreshment hours are:

• Monday to Saturday: 23:00 to 00:00

The opening hours requested are:

• Monday to Thursday: 09:00 to 00:30
• Friday and Saturday: 09:00 to 01:30
• Sunday: 09:00 to 00:00
• New Year's Eve: 09:00 to 01:30

The current opening hours are:

• Monday to Saturday: 09:00 to 00:00
• Sunday: 09:00 to 23:30

Licensing Objectives

The report pack includes steps that the applicant intends to take to promote the licensing objectives¹. These include:

• Premises licence holder, designated premises supervisor², management and staff constantly assess any risks to the licensing objectives.
• Staff are properly authorised, equipped, trained and motivated.
• There will be a written notice of 'authority' record for all staff who sell alcohol.
• Comprehensive training for staff in the main requirements of the Licensing Act 2003³, the specific measures and conditions in place to promote the Licensing Objectives and the staff roles and responsibilities.
• Off sales must be removed from the premises in a sealed container except when served to customers occupying the outside seating areas.
• The front outside space, insofar as it relates to local authority property, shall not be used other than in accordance with an approved pavement licence issued by the local authority.
• The front and rear outside areas, as shown on the plans, shall not be used for licensable activity after 21:30 Monday to Saturday and 21:00 Sunday.
• There shall be a proportionate and risk assessed appointment of SIA⁴ registered security staff for events involving licensable activity occurring beyond midnight, determined by the premises licence holder and designated premises supervisor in consultation with the police and responsible authorities.
• CCTV coverage shall be provided in the form of a recordable system, capable of providing pictures of evidential quality in all lighting conditions particularly facial recognition.
• Cameras shall encompass all ingress and egress to the premises and all areas where the sale/ supply of alcohol occurs.
• Equipment shall be maintained in good working order and checked every 12 months.
• The system shall record in real time and operate whilst the premises are open for licensable activities.
• The recordings shall be kept available for a minimum period of 28 days and handed to Police or Local Authority Officer on request.
• The Recording equipment shall be kept in a secure environment under the control of the Premises Licence Holder or other responsible named individual.
• Appropriate signage representative of the above shall be displayed in conspicuous positions.
• There will be sufficient members of trained staff available to be able to download evidence with the minimum of delay at the request of the Police or Local Authority approved Officer
• Appropriate firefighting equipment shall be installed and maintained at the premises and staff trained in its use.
• Fire risk assessments shall be undertaken and acted upon in accordance with current recommendations and requirements.
• Effective lighting shall be maintained and operated to ensure the safety of the public and staff
• The approved arrangements at the premises, including means of escape provisions, emergency warning equipment, the electrical installation and mechanical equipment, shall at all material times be maintained in good condition and full working order.
• The means of escape provided for the premises shall be maintained unobstructed, free of trip hazards, be immediately available and clearly identified in accordance with the plans provided
• Satisfactory arrangements will be put in place to supervise an orderly dispersal of customers when leaving the property to ensure the minimum of noise and disturbance to local residents and businesses.
• Notices will be appropriately displayed requesting customers to be quiet and considerate to local residents and businesses when they leave the premises or when occupying the outside spaces.
• The premises licence holder shall ensure that any patrons occupying the outside spaces are supervised by staff so as to ensure that there is no public nuisance
• During periods of regulated entertainment, all doors and windows shall remain closed except for normal access and egress and in the event of an emergency.
• No noise generated on the premises, or by its associated plant or equipment, shall emanate from the premises nor vibration be transmitted through the structure of the premises which gives rise to a nuisance
• The premises shall be promoted as family friendly and suitable for all ages.
• Should children be in attendance, there will be no inappropriate promotions, activities or behaviour tolerated at the premises that might put children at risk.
• There will be an effective age verification policy in accordance with the mandatory code.
• This policy will be one of Challenge 25 for age-restricted products and include the appropriate display of notices relating to the policy within the premises.
• These notices will indicate that any customer not appearing to have reached the age of 25 will be required to produce appropriate identification proving that they have turned 18 before being served.
• Appropriate ID will be a passport, photo driving licence, PASS accredited proof of age card or other reliable photo-ID that is recommended and approved for acceptance by the police or other authorities.
• Staff shall be trained in aspects of responsible alcohol retailing and in particular the Protection of Children including the Challenge 25 policy.
• Staff training will occur before a staff member is authorised to sell alcohol within the premises.
• Staff training records will be available for inspection by the police or other responsible authority upon request.