Morecambe pub keeps licence after review following noise complaints

A pub in Morecambe has been allowed to keep trading with conditions after a review following noise complaints.

The Boardwalk on Marine Road West's hours of "regulated entertainment" on Thursdays to Sundays will be reduced to between 10am and 11pm, instead of ending at 1am.

This follows a review of the premises licence by the Lancaster City Council licensing sub-committee on Tuesday.

A council spokesperson said: "The sub committee decided that as a result of the evidence that they heard from the applicant, police, fire service and the licensing enforcement officer that it was necessary to review the premises licence in order to promote the licensing objectives and in particular to ensure the prevention of crime and disorder and to promote public safety and prevent public nuisance.

"The sub committee decided that it was necessary to modify the conditions of the licence and to reduce the hours of regulated entertainment on Thursdays to Sundays to between 10.00 and 23.00."

The full decision is to follow.

Previously, the pub was licensed for regulated entertainment between 10am and 11pm Mondays to Wednesdays, and 10am to 1am Thursdays to Sundays.

We have contacted The Boardwalk for reaction to the decision.

It comes after talks were held today (October 4) on the future of the West End pub after neighbours complained about loud music and other noise coming from the venue.

Lancaster City Council's licensing sub-committee, councillors Mike Greenall, Colin Hartley and Fabiha Askari, heard evidence at a meeting at Morecambe Town Hall on Tuesday.

They heard that noise complaints began in November 2019 and the most recent happened on Sunday, October 2 2022.

Police backed the review of the premises licence, quoting details of 19 incidents of crime and disorder at the Marine Road West venue reported between October 2019 and May 2022.

These include a number of serious assaults, a report of a large group of 20-30 people on the roof of the pub being extremely loud, and reports of threats made to staff.

A Lancaster City Council report said: "The management of The Boardwalk have displayed scant regard to the public nuisance licensing objective and have subjected residents of neighbouring domestic dwellings to repeated, persistent and continuous unreasonable noise disturbance."

Lee Wallett, licensee of the pub, said: "I think we run the venue quite well and try to be considerate. 

"We are trying to do our best to keep the noise down. We are doing our best to address everything we are being told to do.

"We don't have any issues these days. I think I have made a really good job of turning the place around."

The council committee had five options - to modify the licence, exclude some licensable activities, remove Mr Wallett as Designated Premises Supervisor, suspend the licence or revoke the licence altogether.

A premises licence allows a venue to sell alcohol or offer entertainment.

A spokesperson for the licensing sub-committee said they were "satisfied based upon the evidence heard, that the level of noise, the times of the noise and the duration of the noise coming from the premises does amount to a public nuisance".

"Furthermore, the sub-committee heard representations from the police relating to incidents of violence and public disorder that has occurred both inside and outside of the licensed premises and issues were raised regarding the number of SIA (Security Industry Authority) door staff employed at the premises and issues obtaining CCTV."

The modified conditions of the premises licence are as follows:

1. A personal licence holder shall normally be on the premises at all times during which intoxicating liquor is being sold or supplied to customers or consumed by customers, except in the case of an emergency

2. The Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) or a person nominated by them shall be a member of and regularly attend meetings of any Pubwatch scheme for the area within which the premises are located and would include registration and use of community/network radio.

3. Any outside area, which is used for the consumption of alcohol, shall cease to be so used at 21.00 hours.

4. The provision of off-sales to terminate at 23.00 hours.

5. Before the premises are opened for the purposes authorised by the licence an inspection shall be carried out to ensure that the premises are safe for use. Details of the inspection, defects discovered, and remedial action taken shall be recorded in writing in a logbook kept for that purpose. That logbook shall be made available for inspection on demand to an authorised officer of the council, a fire officer or a Police Constable.

6. At all times when the premises are used for the purpose of the premises licence, the licence holder, manager, or DPS who is responsible for the management of the premises shall at all times be aware of the number of persons on the premises and shall if requested to do so give that information to an authorised person.

7. The DPS or responsible person will conduct daily, regular noise assessments and document such checks, including any remedial action taken.

8. All internal doors and windows of the premises will be closed at 22.00 hrs.

9. Any speaker system used at the premises will have a built-in noise limiter.

10. The provision of late-night refreshment is to be for customers on the premises and there will be no takeaway service.

11. There will be no adult entertainment services, activities, other entertainment or matters ancillary to the use of the premises that may give rise to concern in respect of children.

12. All under 16s will be accompanied by adults.

13. Polycarbonate drinking vessels to be used in all outside areas.

14. A documented Challenge 25 scheme will be operated at the premises. The Challenge 25 scheme shall be actively promoted and advertised at the premises and will ensure that any person purchasing alcohol, who appears to be under 25 years of age, shall be asked to provide acceptable identification to prove that they are 18 years of age or over. Failure to supply such identification will result in no sale or supply of alcohol to that person. 

15. An incident book will be maintained.

16. CCTV equipment shall be installed and be maintained in good working order in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. Training should be provided for staff members in the usage of the CCTV equipment CCTV footage recorded must, as a minimum, cover each entry/exit point of the premises and be recording at all times when the premises is conducting licensable activities. The images recorded by the CCTV system shall be retained in unedited form for a period of not less than 21 days. The data controller will make footage available within a reasonable time to a Police Constable or authorised officer, where such request is made in accordance with, and which satisfies the Data Protection Act 1998.

17. On Friday and Saturday, a minimum of 2 SIA registered door staff must be on duty for the first 100 customers from 18:00 hours to close followed by an extra one member of door staff for each additional 100 customers or part thereof. They must cover the door at all times until close. A written record shall be kept on the premises by the DPS of every person employed on the premises as a door supervisor in a register kept for that purpose. On any other day of trading the DPS must use the following ‘risk assess’ door staff condition: Any requirement for SIA Door Staff to be on a risk assessment basis such as: music festivals, St Patrick’s Day, bank holidays, last Friday before Christmas known as ‘Black Eye Friday’, Any showing of major sporting events including boxing, football (World Cup, European Championships, Premier League), wrestling etc. Where there is information from police where security is needed such as a wake, funeral or high tensions in the area and community. Also, consideration for SIA door staff for private bookings or events such as christenings, birthdays, tuneral wakes where there is a possibility of large numbers of patrons. The DPS must risk assess these events and have in place sufficient SIA door staff cover to manage the premises and ensure the licensing objectives are being promoted. Any bookings, events etc where large numbers expected (large numbers being in excess of what the DPS usually expects on any given day of trading) then the DPS is requested to email police licensing. Management are welcome to contact police Licensing for any advice on these matters. Guidelines for SIA door staff are 2 x SIA door staff cover for the first 100 patrons then a further 1 x SIA door staff cover for each 100 patrons therein.

The Boardwalk has the right to appeal.

Related Story: Talks held on future of Morecambe pub after noise complaints - Beyond Radio