Three-day Pub in the Park gets a licence for its new location

Plans to reschedule a postponed food and music festival in Chichester received a boost when organisers were granted a second premises licence.

The three-day Pub in the Park event at Oaklands Park in May was delayed until August because of the coronavirus lockdown.

Organiser Brand Events had been granted a licence to sell alcohol and play live or recorded music in the park.

Not wanting to risk a clash with any future opening of Chichester Festival Theatre, which is based there, they decided on a second option – Westgate Fields, in front of Chichester College.

The company applied to the district council for a permanent licence, which would allow other three-day events to be held once a year.

A report to a meeting of the alcohol and entertainment licensing sub-committee said ten people objected.

One said: “I am of the opinion that such an event will seriously interfere with our right to a peaceful life. Not to mention the likely damage and possible interference with property.”

Another added: “Where there is alcohol for sale there is always a risk of disorder.”

Neil Levene, of Brand Events, told the meeting, in normal circumstances, he would expect between 3,000 and 3,500 people to attend each session.

Under social distancing rules, there would be 1,500 people, fewer attractions and a lower ticket price. The priority was to ‘protect and respect’ the venue.

He added: “If an event is popular – which we hope it will be – we obviously want to be able to come back. So our objective is to ensure we always do everything we can to protect the venue, look after the stakeholders and make sure the event has as little impact as possible.”