Stratford-on-Avon District Council's Licensing Panel determined a review of the premises licence of Chicago Rock Café, Greenhill Street, Stratford-upon-Avon in November last year, which was called for by local residents and businesses.
Following the Licensing Panel hearing the Panel decided to modify the conditions of the licence in order to promote the prevention of crime and disorder and public nuisance.
In December last year, an appeal was lodged by Atmosphere Bars and Clubs Limited, the licence holder against the Panel's decision. It was due to be heard on 28 and 29 May at Leamington Magistrates' Court. The appeal hearing would have been a re-hearing of the original Licensing Panel hearing. The court would have taken into account not only the evidence from the original Licensing Panel hearing, but also new evidence up to the date of the appeal hearing.
Until recently the District Council opposed the appeal and was preparing to attend the appeal hearing. However, in light of new evidence concerning March, April and May of this year that the operation of Chicago Rock Café did not result in crime and disorder and public nuisance, the District Council decided it could no longer oppose the appeal by the licence holder against the reduction in Chicago Rock Café's licensing hours previously imposed by the Panel. The District Council and the licence holder therefore provided the court with an agreed court order which the court approved, dispensing with the need for the appeal hearing.
Other conditions (see list below) imposed by the Panel at the time of the Licensing Panel hearing have already been voluntarily implemented by Chicago Rock Café and will remain in force.
Cllr Sue Adams, Chair of the Licensing Panel says: “The District Council was concerned with promoting the prevention of crime and disorder and public nuisance in the overall interests of the local community as the original review of the licence was brought by local residents and businesses who had expressed a number of concerns. Although it is disappointing that not all the conditions imposed following the Licensing Panel hearing have been implemented, in light of the new evidence the Council could no longer justify the reduction in hours as an appropriate step to take at this time.
I would like to remind residents that if matters arise at Chicago Rock Café in connection with, for example, crime and disorder and public nuisance, then any person or responsible authority, including the police, could call for a further review, subject to licensing laws."
The other conditions imposed on the premises licence by the Licensing Panel following the original Licensing Panel hearing were (in brief) as follows:
- No off-licence sales allowed;
- To provide SIA registered door staff including a female staff member to search those suspected of taking drinks out of the premises;
- Availability of the premises' and head office's contact telephone numbers for residents and businesses in the vicinity;
- Displaying clear and legible notices at all exits requesting patrons to respect the needs of local residents and leave the premises and area quietly and
- Chicago Rock to implement a more focused dispersal policy.
