Pub expanding into shopping centre

Livingston’s town centre pub the Newyearfield has won approval to expand its services to shoppers.

Wetherspoons applied for variations to its licence to create a seating area in the shopping mall to add to its beer garden on the car park side of the shopping centre.

Licensing solicitor Gary McMullen told a meeting of West Lothian Licensing Board:“The variation would create additional outdoor seating on the mall side of the premises and increase capacity from 446 to 482.”

An agent for the pub chain, Archie MacIver told the Board that the mall side tables had been operating since December last year and this application for a variation on the licence would formalise the practice. He said it would provide 36 extra covers to the right and left side of the mail side entrance to the pub.

Chairing the meeting of the Board Councillor Tony Boyle had been on a site visit earlier in the week to see how the set up was operating under the existing licence.

There is a formal barrier between the tables and the mall corridors leading to the car parks. There were no objections from the police or from licensing officers.

Mr MacIver said the pub would be happy to agree to new conditions including access for children and young persons, no consumption of alcohol in the new seating area after 9pm and restrictions on music.

Wetherspoons was also happy to see the removal of other conditions on the licence covering live music performance, Mr MacIver adding that the Newyearfield had never used these elements of the licence.

The board agreed to the proposals and granted variation of the licence.