Pubs lose out on late licence for Christmas

Police object after venues miss application deadline

Several licensed premises - including one of Stirling’s most prestigious awarding winning rural venues - have lost out on an additional festive opening hour after missing an application deadline.

Stirling District Licensing Board last Wednesday rejected bids lodged by Cape, City Walls, William Wallace, Monachyle Mhor Hotel at Balquhidder and the Stirling Court Hotel.

At their meeting in August, the licensing board agreed extended hours applications for no more than one hour beyond normal permitted hours, other than in respect of Christmas Eve and Hogmanay.

Premises were invited to make applications to trade up to 3am and late opening premises up to 4am for the period from - and including - December 9 to January 1.

The board also set a deadline for applications of no later than November 12, adding that applications lodged after that date would only be processed where there were “special circumstances” and “provided there is sufficient time for the same to be considered and consulted upon in advance of the festive period”.

Police Scotland, however, argued that they had waited until after the deadline to draw up extensive policing plans for the festive season and that late applications could skew these considerably.

Police Scotland licensing officer Marie White said: “We have put a lot of planning into festive hours. We hung off on our planning given the board had a deadline of November 12. With every extra hour given there’s an increased risk of alcohol-related disorder and violence.

“When applications come in we can see what premises are open and at what times. Because these applications are late we have been unable to take these into account in our planning.”

Councillor Jim Thomson questioned whether adding the city centre bids would increase the risk significantly, however police said other premises in the area had submitted their applications on time and adding more would have a cumulative effect.

Councillor Gerry McLaughlan added: “If we take on board the serious concerns of the police then we only have one choice here - to reject these applications. None of them felt duty bound to attend here today. They know they missed the deadline and none of them came here today to explain why they believe they fall within special circumstances.”

Cape, which was said to have given no reason for the late submission, and City Walls both had their applications unanimously refused. Councillors had commented on the fact the City Walls application was signed four days after the deadline despite their claim that the deadline was at the weekend and they had submitted it on the Monday.

The William Wallace application was rejected after all but Councillor Martin Earl voted to refuse. Management said they had not been made aware of the festive extended hours arrangements and had lodged their application as soon as they found out.

Monachyle Mhor Hotel - who claimed to have posted their application on November 8 was rejected by three votes to two despite Councillor Earl saying he felt they had a “reasonable case” and board chair Councillor Graham Houston adding he felt it was unlikely to cause any upset to the the police festive strategy given the main focus would be Stirling’s city centre. Police said they still had to factor in the potential of having to police remote locations.

On the Stirling Court Hotel, which was also ultimately refused by three votes to two, Councillor Houston said management had a duty to ensure compliance so he would vote to reject on that basis.