The principle of love thy neighbour has been put to the test by a Southampton pub’s bid to stay open later – after a priest objected.
Brewery Marston’s proposal to extend the licence for the Cricketers Arms in Woolston to 1am on Friday and Saturdays was approved despite attracting dozens of objections from residents, including the parish priest.
The city council’s licensing sub-committee heard the Portsmouth Road pub underwent a £350,000 refurbishment earlier this year as part of an effort to attract a more diverse range of customers.
Father Ross Bullock, parish priest of St Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church which is opposite the Cricketers Arms, said it would be “very bad” to grant the extended hours.
“I still believe 1am is too late for a family area, which is primarily young families and children,” Father Ross said.
(Image: Cristiano Magaglio)
“It is too disruptive. The noise level is too much with drunken people going out onto the street.
“There doesn’t seem to be much management of them as far as I can see.”
The priest told councillors the church had previously experienced issues when holding late-night mass events and vigils.
He said reports had been made to licensing and police before but the sub-committee heard these authorities had not raised issues with the application.
Father Ross’s concerns were echoed by Peartree ward councillor Eamonn Keogh and Woolston ward councillor Warwick Payne.
“This sort of establishment and extension in hours is better if it is located within what we call the night-time economy of the city centre because then it is much more accessible to the police operation that is ongoing,” Cllr Keogh said.
Cllr Payne said he had “absolutely nothing” against the pub but added that the opening hours would be “out of character” for the area.
“If the pub is seeking to become more food driven, which sounds like a really positive step, then trading as a late bar seems inconsistent with presenting itself as a family friendly dining venue,” Cllr Payne said.
“I’m getting mixed messages there. I don’t think it can be both.”
Other potential issues raised by residents related to noise, anti-social behaviour and the impact on St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School.
No objections were made by police and an agreement on proposed conditions had been reached with the council’s environmental health department.
Proposed conditions included outside areas being closed by 11pm, except on Friday and Saturdays when the beer garden curfew would be midnight.
Michelle Hazlewood, representing Marston’s, said the Cricketers Arms was one of the company’s first venues to be converted to their ‘Grandstand’ format.
She said there was an extensive investment on the kitchen, which had led to the pub experiencing an increase in food sales.
Ms Hazlewood said landlord Phil Merriott and his wife Sarah, who had been running the pub for two years, were a strong team who had Marston’s backing.
“My client wants to work with the community,” Ms Hazlewood said. “It wants to sit alongside them.
“The public house, the church, the school are the centre of the community and that’s where they want to be and this is part of repositioning the premises, so it is not just a drinkers pub, it is not just a lads football pub, it is somewhere that is available for everyone if they want to use it.”
Marston’s area manager Chris Gouldson said he was open to having a dialogue with the community going forward to ensure any issues could be addressed.
In approving the premises licence variation, sub-committee chair Cllr Gordon Cooper said there was a “lack of specific issues and some speculation” in the objections.
“Had complaints previously been made to police, environmental health or the licensing authority with regard to the premises, then those responsible authorities might have taken a different view,” Cllr Cooper said.
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