The Alcohol & Gambling Licensing Sub-Committee of West Northamptonshire Council was scheduled to convene on 19 May 2025 to consider a new premises licence application. The application was for The Vault Cocktail Lounge, located at 130 Watling Street East, Towcester NN12 6BT, and the report pack included the application, proposed amendments, and objections from the public. The sub-committee was asked to determine the application in accordance with section 18 the Licensing Act 2003¹.

New Premises Licence Application for The Vault Cocktail Lounge

The sub-committee was scheduled to review an application for a new premises licence for The Vault Cocktail Lounge, submitted by Mr Anthony Walker on 20 March 2025. The application requested permission for the sale of alcohol, live music, and recorded music, with the following proposed hours:

• Sale of Alcohol: 11:00 - 00:00, Monday to Sunday
• Indoor Live Music: 17:00 - 23:30, Monday to Sunday
• Indoor and Outdoor Recorded Music: 11:00 - 00:00, Monday to Sunday
• Opening Hours: 11:00 - 00:00, Monday to Sunday

Following discussions with Mr Anthony Walker, amendments were requested to extend the opening hours to 00:30 to allow for drinking-up time. Further amendments were made after discussions with the Environmental Protection team, including restricting access to the outdoor courtyard area and limiting the use of recorded music.

Objections and Representations

The council received objections from members of the public, which were included in the report pack. The concerns raised related to the licensing objectives, including:

• The prevention of crime and disorder
• Public safety
• The prevention of public nuisance
• The protection of children from harm

One local resident, Brian Bollen, raised concerns about noise disruption, potential invasion of private parking, and waste management. He described the prospect of the licence being granted as:

a combination of disbelief and utter dismay at the prospect of wholesale destruction of what little peace and quiet exists in this vicinity.

Mr Bollen also stated that he and his wife feared for their mental wellbeing if the licence was granted.

Another resident, Colin Clayson, objected to the application on the grounds of noise and disturbance to the residential Moat Lane Conservation Area². Mr Clayson stated that the proposal would undermine the quiet enjoyment of residential properties and was incongruous with the residential environment. Other objections included concerns about noise levels, the proximity to residential dwellings, and potential trespass onto private property.

Conditions Agreed with Authorities

The report pack indicated that the applicant, Mr Anthony Walker, agreed to several conditions with the Environmental Protection team and the police. These included:

• Restricting access and use of the outdoor courtyard area to 11:00 – 23:00 Sunday – Thursday and 11:00 – 23:30 Friday – Saturday.
• Playing recorded music at background levels only and turning off speakers in the courtyard every night by 23:00.
• Holding live music performances indoors only, with doors and windows closed and no use of the courtyard allowed.
• Ensuring deliveries and waste collection occur through the front of the premises only.
• Installing and maintaining CCTV, keeping an incident log, and providing staff training on responsible alcohol sales and the licensing objectives.

Considerations

The sub-committee was reminded of its duty to consider the application on its own merits, based on the licensing objectives and the South Northamptonshire Statement of Licensing Policy 2020 – 2025. They were also advised to focus on steps considered appropriate to promote the licensing objectives that had given rise to the specific representations.