The Licensing Act Sub Committee of Cornwall Council met on Wednesday 28 January 2026 and resolved to revoke the premises licence for Rum Store Carnglaze Caverns, St Neot, Liskeard, Cornwall, PL14 6HQ. This decision was made following a review of the licence prompted by concerns raised by Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service regarding public safety.

Review of Premises Licence for Rum Store Carnglaze Caverns

The Sub Committee considered an application for the review of the premises licence for Rum Store Carnglaze Caverns, located at St Neot, Liskeard, Cornwall, PL14 6HQ. The review was initiated by Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service, a responsible authority under the Licensing Act 2003¹, due to concerns about public safety.

Licensing Officer's Submission: The Licensing Officer presented a report detailing the review application. It was noted that Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service had raised concerns about the premises, including an email suggesting a condition that the licence holder found unfeasible.

Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service's Concerns: The representative from Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service highlighted several significant risks to public safety at the venue. These included:

• An excessive travel distance required for evacuation from the stage and seating areas.
• The absence of a fire warning and detection system.
• A lack of sufficient fire exits for the venue's capacity of 450 occupants.

The service emphasised that a separate exit route would be necessary in case the primary route became blocked. They referred to general principles of fire safety, stating that with only one exit, it would be reasonably practical for only 60 people to escape safely. An improved fire warning system alone was deemed insufficient. Discussions were ongoing with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service to clarify jurisdictional responsibilities.

Licence Holder's Submissions: A representative for the licence holders argued that the premises had been operating for over 23 years without any issues. They stated that the HSE inspected the premises annually and considered them to be in charge of their health and safety, with further smoke and fire simulations planned. The representative also mentioned that NVP readings of the cave had been undertaken and that the HSE were supportive of the existing infrastructure. They reiterated that health and safety were taken very seriously and that all staff were trained on exit procedures. However, they acknowledged that to make the premises safe for 450 people, combustible sources would need to be controlled, as per the opinion of the Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service representative.

Decision: Following private deliberation, the Sub Committee resolved to revoke the premises licence for Rum Store Carnglaze Caverns. The reasons cited for this decision included the representations from Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service regarding insufficient fire exits, excessive travel distances for evacuation, and inadequate fire warning and detection systems. The Sub Committee noted the concerns raised by Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service that the venue potentially exposed people to significant risk.

While acknowledging the licence holder's submission that the premises had operated for over 23 years without incident, the Sub Committee felt that the representations from Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service were reasonable and proportionate. They considered all available options, including modifying conditions or suspending the licence, but concluded that revocation was the most reasonable, necessary, and proportionate action to promote the Public Safety licensing objective. The Sub Committee also considered the relevance of Human Rights Legislation but determined the revocation was justified.