A bar and restaurant is set to have its licence reviewed after complaints from residents of alleged noise disruption. Hartlepool Borough Council’s Licensing Sub-Committee is to review the licence of Wallis & Co at the town’s Navigation Point at its next meeting. Wallis & Co has traded from Navigation Point since 2015 and, during that time, expanded from a single unit to a double unit, having taken over the old ‘Marina Plaice’ fish and chip shop. The current premises licence authorises the sale of alcohol between 9am and 11.40pm, Monday – Sunday, and the provision of live and recorded music between noon and 11.40pm Monday – Sunday. It offers a restaurant, as well as a bar and cocktail lounge. The applicant for the review lives in the block of flats directly above Wallis & Co and states they experience noise from the premises, both during and after licensed hours. The application has been supported by Hartlepool Borough Council. Submitted by Deborah White, she said they have already gone to the council with a noise complaint and has submitted the application ‘to prevent nuisance’.
In her grounds for review submitted to the council, she said: “Firstly, there isn’t a pub below us, it’s a cocktail lounge so we cannot see why they would need a large subwoofer bass speaker within their premises. “We have also had to complain to the police on two separate occasions as the owner and the staff have had two all night parties for the staff within the space of a few months. “They have also been known to play their loud music and bang tables and chairs well past the licencing hours.” Steps available to the committee include taking no action, modifying conditions on the licence, excluding a licensable activity or removing the designated premises supervisor.
They also have the power to suspend the licence for up to three months, or revoke the licence completely.
The applicant has complained to the council’s environmental protection team and a thorough investigation was undertaken. The environmental protection manager will be attending the review hearing to explain the outcomes of their investigation. Hartlepool council environmental health manager Adrian Hurst said the council has supported the applicants concerns. He said: “I wish to make representations in support of this review application on the grounds of the prevention of public nuisance objective of the Licensing Act.
“There is evidence that the entertainments held in the licensed premises are clearly audible within the applicants apartment.” A decision will be made at the meeting taking place on Thursday, October 4, at the Civic Centre in Hartlepool from 2pm.
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