Plans for Italian could be scrapped if alcohol licence is denied
JONATHAN GRIEVE
PLANS to reopen an Italian restaurant could be shelved if an alcohol licence isn’t granted, an applicant warned.
A Hyndburn council licensing sub committee meeting heard Adam Chapman, who owns the Strawberry Duck in Entwistle and San Marino in Belmont, could scrap his plan to reopen The Pack in Belthorn if councillors don’t decide to approve his application for a premises licence.
Members were told Mr Chapman, director of applicants Switzer Holdings Ltd, had already revised the proposed opening hours from 10am to 2am every day to 10am to 11pm on weekdays and 10am to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.
Speaking on behalf of Mr Chapman, his solicitor Sam Ford told the meeting: “The building is sitting empty gathering dust and the longer this continues, the more the building falls into disrepair.
“The timings we initially applied for were the same as those on the old licence.
“We did not expect this application to be controversial and we did not expect objections - certainly not to the level we received.
“In hindsight maybe that was a bit naive.”
Ms Ford added that although eight members of the public had objected, there were no objections from the authorities and no evidence to suggest granting the licence would breach the council’s licensing objectives.
Making representations on behalf of residents, ward councillor Marlene Haworth said opening hours should be pushed back to midday.
She added: “This is a beautiful, quiet and peaceful village and to have a pub open at these hours, you will get noise.
“As councillor for this area, I personally have received phone calls late at night from people who live directly opposite the pub complaining about the noise.”
Resident Luke Whalley said: “You tend to hear strong language and late at night you can hear a lot of effing and blinding.
“I worked there for eight years myself but the terrace has the potential to cause considerable public nuisance.
“It’s very rural and at night, background noise can travel a long way.
“The failure of the previous licensing conditions has left residents vulnerable but we are all unanimous in welcoming the new owners and having a fruitful relationship with them.
“The Pack has been a really integral part of the community and we are looking forward to its’ future success.”
Ms Ford told the committee it was unlikely The Pack would actually open from 10am every day but that the licence would give them the option if they wanted to serve breakfasts in the future.
The Pack went up for sale with Keenans Estate Agents in February for offers in the region of £419,950.
It closed after seven years in January with former owner Karl Elsworth saying the decision was made with huge regret.
A decision will be made by the committee within the next week.