Agenda item

Report by Licensing Service Lead, (attached).

·         On 26^th March 2019 a complaint was received shortly after the re-opening of the pub

·         The Applicant met with the complainant to discuss the alleged noise complaints, young children trying to sleep were disturbed by breaking glass and loud noise in the rear garden area

·         On 25^th April 2019 the Applicant met with Mr Barnard who accepted the issues and wanted to address the problems

·         Further complaints of noise disturbances were received after this meeting but this time on the High Street, in total three complaints were received.  The High Street had a lot of residential properties.

·         Monitoring visits had been carried out.  There was not a great deal of noise disturbance recorded on the High Street, but there was a great deal of noise emanating from the rear garden area

·         Another visit was made to Mr Barnard to discuss this, which did not have an impact on noise disturbance as recordings were still being received

·         On 27^th June 2019 and with the help of the Devon and Cornwall Licensing Officer a Community Protection Warning letter was issued to Mr Barnard.  This warning had several conditions attached to it; not cause a disturbance to other residents by loud music at any time at this address, not permit any shouting, chanting or other unreasonable noise by persons at this address or customers leaving the premises, respond in a reasonable and civil manner to representations that may be made by local residents or officials of this Council or any agency in regard to noise complaints against this address, not allow any glasses outside the front of the premises at any time, and to ensure that the rear garden area was closed by one am

·         An action plan was also drawn up between the Police and the proprietors to improve the running of the premises

·         All the meetings held with Mr Barnard were positive but due to his inexperience no progress was made

·         The Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) Mr Squires was also a Security Industry Authority registered door supervisor and was not providing support to Mr Barnard as he was working on the door at weekends and was not present at all during the week

·         On several occasions phone calls made to the police for assistance with noise disturbance was made by the staff at the Bunch of Grapes

·         In August 2019 a breach of the Community Protection Warning took place involving an altercation between females inside the pub, on removing one of the females from the premises disturbance was caused by her banging on windows and doors attempting to re-enter the premises, this took place at 1.30 am on a Monday morning

·         None of the complainants wanted their names disclosed for fear of reprisals.  One of the complainants left their property in August and was too scared to return

·         Social media had played a part in discussions taking place around incidents and indeed still ongoing

·         Both Mr Bayntun and Mr Barnard had been engaging and responsive with the Police

·         There had been a complete lack of support from Mr Squires (DPS)

·         At the meeting he attended in April with Mr Barnard, Mr Squires, the DPS was not present

·         He started correspondence with Mr Bayntun on 17^th June 2019

·         For the period 1^st March 2019 to 31^st August 2019 54% of police logs were in connection with the Bunch of Grapes, as were 50% of alcohol related disorder and assaults

·         This was a high percentage out of the 11 premises in the town

·         Staff had also logged concerns

·         Mr Butler was emailed about any incident or crime log recorded at the premises which he would follow up in person with the police officer concerned

·         All visits to the premises had been notified to the relevant interested parties listing reasons for the visits.

·         Due to retirement Mr Butler was away for August but colleagues kept an eye on events during his absence

·         He had held a personal licence for 20 years.  He had either operated or owned numerous pubs

·         Abbeyvalley Limited owned several pubs that were leased out

·         They had never experienced a review.  This was due to a very rigorous vetting process and well-drawn up leases

·         It wasn’t until 15^th June 2019 that he became aware of the problems at the Bunch of Grapes

·         It was accepted there were clear failings at the pub

·         Communications he had with Mr Butler and Mr Barnard led him to believe that meetings held were positive and productive

·         Mr Bayntun advised Mr Barnard to work with the Police

·         Changes at the pub were being made with tighter controls on use of the rear garden and notices being displayed

·         Very forthright letters were sent to Mr Barnard who was put on notice with the forfeit of his lease the penalty if the situation wasn’t rectified

·         It was unfortunate that someone so inexperienced and with no personal licence had been given the lease which they had inherited when they purchased the pub

·         They have accepted Mr Barnard’s breaking of the lease as he clearly could not manage a pub

·         Going forward only a tenant with qualifications, management abilities and competence would be given a lease and physical changes to the premises would be made

·         The current premises licence had 67 conditions attached to it and not all of them were being adhered to.  These conditions were basic which any experienced Landlord would be aware of

·         Abbeyvalley Limited had along with the authorities put Mr Barnard under considerable pressure to carry out the changes needed

·         If run well the pub could be successful like another pub they owned in Ilfracombe

Mr Dotchon requested that the Sub-Committee formally accepted the submission dated 8^th October 2019.

In response to a question about how they saw the pub going forward and how they felt about the opening hours being shortened Mr Bayntun replied he would like the Sub-Committee to give Abbeyvalley Limited and the Bunch of Grapes a chance, the licence had not been the cause of the problems.  He could see it as a town centre pub well run and although challenging having longer opening hours he didn’t feel drawing back the hours was necessary.  To have the DPS doubled up as the door security was wrong and had been part of the problems.

In response to a question about potential lessees and what assurances could be given on how good they were Mr Bayntun replied that only experienced tenants would be considered and finances had to be sufficient to stock the pub.

In response to a question on how this pub would offer anything different compared to the others in town Mr Bayntun replied the pub was more of a locals pub and the late licence fulfilled a need for the residents of the town.  The pub was a grade II listed building and unique.

In response to a question on how smoking would be managed at the front of the pub when the rear garden shut at 11 pm Mr Bayntun replied, that this would be acheived by having good signage, good management and good customers.

The Applicant summed up.  The Environmental Protection Team could discuss activities with any new tenant before they went ahead. 

The Licensing Service Lead Officer summed up.

In considering the review of the premises licence, the Sub-Committee made the following findings: