A new bingo hall in Whitby has been granted permission to sell alcohol following a hearing.
The Harbour Café Bar located in Galleon Bingo in New Quay Road has been given the green light to provide alcohol for consumption on and off the premises from 9am until 10.30pm seven days a week.
The bingo hall, a former William Hill betting shop with a refreshment area, is located in the town’s cumulative impact zone.
The zone creates a presumption that applications for new licences will normally be refused if relevant representations are received.
The burden of proof is shifted to the applicant to provide evidence that the premises will not add to the problems in that area.
Six members of the public objected to the plans which meant a meeting of Scarborough Council’s licensing sub-committee had to be held today in the town, though none of those who opposed the bingo hall attended the hearing.
The applicant, Jason Noble, told the councillors that the primary customers of the bingo hall would be women in their 50s and that wine and beer would be provided to those who come in to play. Mr Noble said it would not operate as a pub and was not trying to compete with the Wetherspoons next door.
He said:
"Our customer base is predominantly female, usually 55 plus and I would say 85% of them are not big drinkers.
“We have approximately 20 seats and teas and coffees will be the mainstay but in the evening customers like to have a glass of wine while they are playing bingo.”
The objections from the public raised fears about an increase in anti-social behaviour, “urination” in public yards, disturbance to neighbours and concerns about the mixing of alcohol and gambling.
Chairman of the committee, Cllr Simon Green, said that the councillors had found Mr Noble to be a responsible applicant who also runs similar premises in Chester-le-Street, Consett, Newcastle and Peterlee and granted the application.
Major Investment Approved for Whitby and Pickering Leisure Centres
Organised Firework Displays Taking Place on the Yorkshire Coast
Man Jailed After Van Set Alight Near Bridlington Nursery
Parents Lay Bare SEND Crisis at Scarborough Protest
Rainbow Centre Launches £10,000 Christmas Appeal to Support Scarborough Families
Seaweed Study Suggests Scalby Beck is to Blame for Poor Bathing Water Quality in Scarborough
Concerns Raised Over Untapped Potential of Bridlington’s Night-Time Economy
St Cecilia's Steps In to Provide Clinical Facility for Eastfield Medical Centre
North Yorkshire Police 999 Calls Answered in Just 3 Seconds
Scarborough Chip Firm Highlights Farming Crisis
Drop in Events for Whitby Regeneration Plan
Free Weekend Parking to Return to East Riding in the Run-up to Christmas
Comments
Add a comment