The Alcohol and Entertainment Licensing Sub-Committee of Chichester Council met on Friday 19 September 2025 to discuss a licensing application. The sub-committee was scheduled to determine an application to vary a premises licence, and also to elect a chair for the hearing.

Licensing Hearings - The Crown

The main item for discussion was an application from Mr Daniel Mark Gregory to vary the premises licence for The Crown pub, located at 107 High Street, Selsey, Chichester, West Sussex, PO20 0QL. Specifically, Mr Daniel Mark Gregory was seeking to be specified as the premises supervisor, also known as the Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS).

The report pack included a recommendation for the sub-committee to consider the application submitted by Mr Daniel Mark Gregory under the Licensing Act 2003.

According to the report pack, a notice of objection had been submitted by the Chief Officer of Police, who believed that granting the application would undermine the crime prevention objective. The Licensing Act 2003 allows a Chief Officer of Police to object to the designation of a new DPS if they believe it would undermine the crime prevention objective.

The notice from Sussex Police stated that Mr Daniel Mark Gregory had been convicted of an offence under Section 20 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861, namely wounding/inflicting grievous bodily harm, at Portsmouth Crown Court on 5 April 2023. He received a sentence of 18 months imprisonment, suspended for 2 years, along with 200 hours of unpaid work, £1500 compensation, and a £156 victim surcharge. Sussex Police noted that this conviction would not be spent until 5 October 2028, and therefore they contested that the above constitutes exceptional circumstances and therefore Sussex Police invite the committee to refuse the application.

The report pack noted that Mr Daniel Mark Gregory had previously submitted a similar application to be the DPS at The Crown, which he later withdrew after an objection from the Chief Officer of Police.

The sub-committee was reminded to consider the promotion of the prevention of crime and disorder licensing objective, Chichester District Council's Statement of Licensing Policy 2022-2027, the Home Office Statutory Guidance issued to Licensing Authorities (February 2025), and any written or oral evidence presented during the hearing. The sub-committee was also advised to consider human rights, anti-discriminatory legislation including the Equality Act 2010, and Section 17 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998.

The available options for the sub-committee were to grant or reject the DPS variation application.

The report pack included the current premises licence for The Crown, the application forms submitted by Mr Daniel Mark Gregory, and the objection notice from Sussex Police.

The current premises licence, valid from 8 April 2023, authorised several licensable activities at The Crown, including:

• Exhibition of a Film (indoors)
• Indoor Sporting Event (indoors)
• Performance of Live Music (indoors)
• Playing of Recorded Music (indoors)
• Provision of regulated entertainment similar to Live Music, Recorded Music or a Performance of Dance (indoors)
• Sale by Retail of Alcohol (indoors and outdoors)

The standard days and timings for the sale of alcohol were listed as every day from 10:00 to 00:30, with extended hours on New Year's Eve. The licence also permitted alcohol to be supplied for consumption both on and off the premises. The designated premises supervisor was named as Mr James Oliver Martin.

Other items

The agenda also included the election of a chair for the hearing and consideration of any late items.