Agenda item

Bournemouth Holding Co Limited have made an application for a premises licence at 30-32 Panorama Road, Poole.

The application is to permit the supply of alcohol (on and off sales) from 07:00 to 23:00 every day of the week as well as non-standard timing on New Year’s Eve.

This matter is brought before the Sub-Committee for determination.

Present:

From BCP Council:

Nananka Randle – Licensing and Trading Standards Manager

Tania Jardim – Licensing Officer

Linda Cole – Legal Advisor to the Sub-Committee

Michelle Cutler – Clerk to the Sub-Committee

Christiane Tan – Democratic Services, observing for training purposes

The Chair made introductions and explained the procedure for the hearing which was agreed by all parties.  

The Principal Licensing Officer presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated and a copy of which appears as Appendix A to these minutes in the Minute Book.

The Sub-Committee was asked to consider an application made by Bournemouth Holding Co Limited for a premises licence at 30-32 Panorama Road, Poole. The application sought to permit the supply of alcohol (on and off sales) from 07:00 to 23:00 every day of the week as well as non-standard timing on New Year’s Eve.

In response to the application, representations had been received from five local residents on the grounds that granting the licence would undermine the prevention of public nuisance licensing objective.

The premises currently held a premises licence, BH182896, that permitted the same activities at the same times as requested in the new application. The reason for the new application was a change in the location of the licensable area within the premises. Rather than varying the existing licence, the operators had applied for a new licence to update the layout plan.

Following publication of the Officer’s report, further documentation was provided on behalf of one of the objectors and the applicant, a copy of which are appended to these minutes in the Minute Book.

The following persons attended the hearing and addressed the Sub- Committee to expand on the points made in written submissions:

• Mr Philip Day, Solicitor, on behalf of the applicant
• Mr Merle Crampton, proposed Designated Premises Supervisor
• Mr Steven Prior, Director of applicant company
• Mr Bill Soper, local resident, objecting
• Mr Robert Webb, representing Ms Natasha Lewis, objecting

The Sub-Committee asked various questions of all parties present and were grateful for the responses received. All parties had the opportunity to ask questions. All parties were invited to sum up before the Sub-Committee retired to make its decision. Before concluding the hearing, the Legal Advisor advised all parties of the right of appeal.

RESOLVED that the application dated 9 December 2025 for a new premises licence for the premises known as ‘Lazyjacks Bar and Restaurant Boatyard Café’,  30-32 Panorama Road, Poole, BH13 7RD to permit the supply of alcohol (on and off sales) from 07:00 to 23:00 every day of the week and from 07:00 on New Years Eve to 02:00 on 1 January be GRANTED, subject to the additional condition offered by the Applicant’s Representative during the Hearing, as amended by the Sub?Committee,

·       No waste, including glass bottles, shall be removed from the premises, placed outside, or moved if already outside between the hours of 22:00 and 07:00.

And the following additional condition imposed by the Sub?Committee:

• A contact telephone number for the Designated Premises Supervisor, or a duty manager when the DPS is not on site, shall be prominently displayed at the entrance to the premises.

In addition to all of the conditions offered by the Applicant in Paragraph M of the Operating Schedule.

Reasons for Decision:

The Sub-Committee gave detailed consideration to all of the information which had been submitted before the Hearing, as contained in the Licensing Officer’s report and all of the supplementary papers for Agenda Item 6, including the information provided by the applicant in their application and the written representations made from 5 other persons in objection to the application  on the grounds that to grant the premises licence would undermine the licensing objective of the prevention of public nuisance.

The Sub-Committee also considered the verbal submissions made at the Hearing by those in attendance, Mrs Tania Jardim, Licensing Officer, Mr Philip Day, Solicitor representing the Applicant, Mr Merle Crampton, proposed Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS), Mr Steven Prior, Director of the applicant company, Mr Bill Soper, local resident, objecting and Mr Robert Webb, representing Ms Natasha Lewis, objecting.

Mr Day explained that the reason for the new application was a change in the location of the licensable area within the premises. Rather than varying the existing licence, the operators had applied for a new licence to update the layout plan. The operation was to remain as a café restaurant. The Sub-Committee noted the new application did not look to extend the current licensable hours at the premises and that the supply of alcohol would still cease at 11pm and there was no application for regulated entertainment.

The Sub-Committee noted that some concerns raised such as planning issues, traffic and parking were outside what the sub-committee could take into consideration when making their decision and that they could only consider evidence pointing to the premises undermining the prevention of public nuisance licensing objective.

Mr Bill Soper, objecting, pointed out that the information included on the application form was not accurate and was misleading. He was also concerned that the application was invalid as the application had not been properly advertised. The Sub-Committee were satisfied that it was a valid application, that the appropriate fee had been paid and that there was no conclusive evidence that notices had been removed from the premises. They considered the purpose of the notices and that was to make residents aware of the application and 5 representations had been received. The Licensing Officer also advised that 2 late representations were made outside the consultation period and not accepted, but on review did not raise any new points not already covered in the 5 valid representations that were before the Sub-Committee to be considered.

The Sub-Committee heard from Mr Soper regarding noise particularly after the premises close, caused by cleaners removing rubbish and glass bottles from the premises, which caused a disturbance. The Sub-Committee welcomed the offer made by the applicant’s representative during the hearing, that no waste, including glass bottles, shall be removed from the premises and put outside, or moved if already outside between the hours of 11:00pm and 7:00am, however, they felt that waste and glass bottles should not be moved after 22:00pm, to ensure that local residents were not disturbed later in the evening.

The Sub-Committee heard from Mr Robert Webb, on behalf of Ms Natasha Lewis that Sandbanks was a quiet residential area that welcomed the existing premises, however he was concerned about planning creep. He advised residents did not want a larger licensed premises and had concerns that if the first-floor area of the premises was licenced, it was a significant expansion of the operation which could become a nuisance in the future and cause problems.

When asked about the operation and current capacity in the café restaurant, the premises confirmed that they provide approximately 44 covers both inside and outside and think when the restaurant is moved upstairs there may be approximately 40 covers. They were asked about resident complaints and confirmed they had not received any, but the telephone number was very accessible on the website and on menus and would act accordingly if complaints were received.

The premises were asked about a dispersal policy and advised customers gradually leave premises as they finish and last orders were called at 10.30pm to ensure they can close at 11pm. A notice asking customers to leave quietly and respect the neighbours is erected. Premises close earlier on some nights and will close if very few customers remain onsite. They described having approximately 5/6 functions during 2025 with approximately 75 guests, charity functions and celebration bookings made by local residents but they are and plan to remain a food led restaurant.

Mr Soper and Mr Webb advised the Sub-Committee that they had no issues with the premises since the new operators took over in January 2024. The Sub-Committee noted that there was no evidence of any recent public nuisance occurring at the premises. They noted a noise complaint made in 2023, whilst the premises was under different management and a second noise complaint was made to Environment Health in 2025, where no further action was taken as the complainant did not provide any further information.   

The Sub-Committee acknowledged the concerns raised in the representations and during the hearing that the granting of the licence could potentially lead to an increase in public nuisance, however, the Sub-Committee is limited to considering only the evidence before it and determined there was no such evidence.

The Sub-Committee noted that no Responsible Authorities had made an objection to the application and was satisfied that the conditions proposed by the applicant within the application would help to promote the four licensing objectives.

In conclusion, the Sub-Committee was satisfied that, provided the premises operate in accordance with the conditions on its licence, the licensing objectives should not be undermined, and the application was accordingly granted.

It was noted however that a review of the premises licence may be sought at any time by a Responsible Authority or any other person should future issues arise that may undermine the licensing objectives.

In reaching this decision, the Sub-Committee had regard to the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council Licensing Policy, the Secretary of State’s revised guidance, and the licensing objectives set out in the Licensing Act 2003. All parties have the right to appeal this decision to the Dorset Magistrates’ Court within 21 days of receiving written notification from the Licensing Authority.