Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED that Councillor Hetherton be appointed Chair for the meeting.

There were no declarations of interest.

To consider an application for review of premises license in respect of Carter’s Bar and Grill, Skydome, Croft Road, Coventry.

Note: The applicant and their representative have been invited to attend the

  hearing.

  Persons who have made representations have been invited to attend.

The Sub-Committee considered an application for the expedited review of the premises licence relating to Carters Bar & Grill, Skydome, Croft Road, Coventry. The ground for bringing the review is that the premises are associated with serious crime and/or serious disorder.  The licence is held by KRA Leisure Ltd. 

The review application refers to “serious disorder” in the vicinity of the premises which occurred in the early hours of 20^th March 2015. The Police also refer to another 18 incidents reported to them since June 2014 relating to assaults, sexual assaults, possession of drugs and thefts.

On 20^th March 2015 an Interim Steps hearing took place at which it was decided to suspend the licence. That decision was confirmed at a review hearing held on 24^th March. At a further review hearing held on 30^th March it was decided to lift the interim suspension and substitute interim licence conditions apparently agreed with the Police.

In addition to the Police, the Director of Public Health and the Landlord of the Skydome Complex submitted representations and joined the review. Representations were received from the Licensee and were included within the hearing bundle.

The Premises Licence permits the premises to generally open between 10.00hrs and 0330hrs the following day and permits regulated entertainment, late night refreshment and the sale of alcohol.

The Police requested the revocation of the licence.

All parties attended the hearing and addressed the Sub-Committee.

b) The Main Issues

i)  Have the Police established, on the balance of probability, that the premises are associated with serious crime and/or serious disorder?

In the Sub-Committee’s opinion the answer to this was ‘yes’. It is clear from the evidence that an incident of serious disorder did occur in the early hours of the 20^th March and, on balance, the evidence suggests that customers who had attended Carters were involved. The Sub-Committee were shocked by what it saw on the CCTV footage provided by the Police and by what it read in the various Police statements and wanted to put on the record its thanks and appreciation for the bravery and professionalism shown by the Police in dealing with the incident.

ii)  Have the premises been managed in a way that promotes the licensing objectives?

In the Sub-Committee’s opinion, holding an ‘urban event’ at the premises on 20^th March was misguided as has been recognised by Mr McCloskey. Overall there were less than 20 police logs said to relate to the premises and the premises seem to have been managed in a generally satisfactory manner. Of particular significance, is that no formal enforcement action under the ‘ladder of intervention’ referred to in the local statement of licensing policy appears to have been taken which suggests that the way the premises have been managed has not merited formal intervention before now.

iii)  What is the appropriate measure to take?

The Sub-Committee considered Part 11.20 of the Secretary of State’s Guidance: “..it is expected that licensing authorities should  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

To consider any other items of business which the Chair decides to take as a matter of urgency because of the special circumstances involved.

There were no other items of business.