The Licensing Sub-Committee is scheduled to convene on Monday, 22 September 2025, to consider a new premises licence application and potentially discuss matters involving exempt information. The main focus of the meeting will be a hearing regarding a new premises licence application for Eclipse, a cocktail bar and vape lounge on Winchester Street. Additionally, the committee may consider a resolution to exclude the public from a portion of the meeting if exempt information is likely to be disclosed.

New Premises Licence Application for Eclipse

The sub-committee will be asked to consider a new premises licence application made under section 17 of the Licensing Act 2003 relating to Eclipse, located at 8 Winchester Street, Basingstoke, Hampshire, RG21 7DY. According to the applicant, Eclipse is intended to be:

a stylish and modern cocktail bar and vape lounge located in a town centre setting. It will consist of a main bar area with seating, a designated vaping zone, and ancillary facilities including customer toilets and a storage area. The venue is intended for adult patrons and will be used for the sale of alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, and vape products, as well as providing recorded music and general entertainment in a relaxed, upscale environment.

The application seeks permission for live music, recorded music, and the sale of alcohol for consumption on and off the premises, every day between 07:00 and 02:00.

Background

The report pack states that the premises at 8 Winchester Street previously held a premises licence under the names Tropical Smoke and Taboo (22/00904/PREMN), which was issued on 7 September 2022, and lapsed on 15 April 2025. This licence originally permitted the sale of alcohol every day between 12:00 and 23:00. Subsequent variations were made to extend the hours and add live and recorded music to the licence.

Representations

During the statutory 28-day consultation period, one representation was received from Tim Ha, the freeholder of 4-6 Winchester Street, relating to the prevention of public nuisance. The representation mentions previous noise complaints and the strict acoustic mitigation required for flats at 4-6 Winchester Street due to their proximity to number 8.

Mr Ha requested the following conditions be added to the licence:

• Installation and use of a calibrated electronic noise limiter to control amplified music.
• All doors and windows to remain closed during regulated entertainment, save for access and egress.
• No external speakers or amplified music permitted.
• No external seating on Winchester Street frontage after 22:00.
• A written Noise Management Plan to be agreed with Environmental Health, including a procedure for logging and responding to complaints.

The report pack includes details of mediation between the applicant and Mr Ha. The applicant, named in the report pack as Kaine Macauley, agreed to add the conditions: Doors and windows will remain closed after 21:00 hours (except for access/egress) and No external speakers will be placed outside of the premises. Mr Macauley did not agree to the other conditions requested by Mr Ha.

Licensing Policy Considerations

The report pack includes extracts from the Shared Licensing Services Statement of Licensing Policy and Section 182 Guidance. The sub-committee is reminded that it must consider the application on its own merits, taking into account the report documentation, relevant representations, and evidence provided by all parties. They must also have regard to the council's statement of licensing policy and the statutory guidance issued under section 182 of the Licensing Act 2003, and then determine the application taking the steps it considers appropriate to promote the licensing objectives¹.

The report pack states that the options available to the sub-committee are outlined under section 18(4) of the LA2003, which allows them to:

• Grant the licence subject to conditions.
• Exclude licensable activities from the scope of the licence.
• Refuse to specify a person as the premises supervisor.
• Reject the application.

Exclusion of Public

The sub-committee may consider passing a resolution to exclude the public from the remainder of the meeting, according to Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, if the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing it, and therefore that exempt information is likely to be disclosed, as defined in paragraph [] of Schedule 12A of the Act.

Matters Involving Exempt Information

The agenda includes an item to discuss matters involving the likely disclosure of exempt information, but the report pack does not provide any further details about this.