The Licensing (Premises) Sub-Committee of Buckinghamshire Council met on Monday 27 April 2026 to consider an application for a new premises licence for Buckingham Football Club. The meeting agenda focused on this single application, outlining the details of the request, the representations received, and the relevant policies and guidance.

Application for a New Premises Licence at Buckingham Football Club

The primary item scheduled for discussion was an application for a new premises licence for Buckingham Football Club, located at Stratford Road, Buckingham, MK18 1NY. The application, submitted by Nathan Tinsley, sought to allow for a wider range of licensable activities and extended operating hours compared to the club's existing Club Premises Certificate.

The proposed licensable activities included:

• Films, Performance of Dance, Recorded Music, and Other Entertainment Similar to Music and Dancing (Indoors and Outdoors): Sunday to Thursday from 09:00 to 23:00, and Friday to Saturday from 09:00 to 23:30.
• Plays (Indoors only): Sunday to Thursday from 09:00 to 23:00, and Friday to Saturday from 09:00 to 23:30.
• Live Music (Indoors and Outdoors): Sunday to Thursday from 12:00 to 23:00, and Friday to Saturday from 09:00 to 23:30.
• Sale of Alcohol (On the Premises): Sunday to Thursday from 11:00 to 23:00, and Friday to Saturday from 11:00 to 23:30.
• Opening Hours: Sunday to Thursday from 09:00 to 23:00, and Friday to Saturday from 09:00 to 23:30.

The report pack noted that following deregulatory amendments to the Licensing Act 2003, amplified live or recorded music for audiences up to 500 does not require authorisation under a premises licence or Temporary Event Notice when playing between 8:00 am and 11:00 pm on licensed premises authorised for alcohol sales.

The application had undergone a 28-day consultation period. While the Chief Officer of Police, the Licensing Authority, the Local Environmental Health Authority, the Safeguarding and Child Protection Unit, and the Primary Care Trust provided no response, the Fire and Rescue Authority and the Local Planning Authority (Head of Sustainable Development) also indicated no comment.

However, twenty-one representations were received from other persons on the grounds of the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, prevention of public nuisance, and protection of children from harm. Five of these representations were later withdrawn, leaving fifteen objections. The applicant, Nathan Tinsley, provided a response to these concerns.

The Licensing Officer's observations highlighted that the relevant representations primarily raised concerns regarding:

• The Prevention of Crime and Disorder: Potential anti-social behaviour from customers congregating outside the premises and late-night hours.
• Prevention of Public Nuisance: Increased noise and disturbance from extended hours, particularly from outdoor areas, and concerns about traffic and parking.
• The Protection of Children from Harm: The impact of potential anti-social behaviour on children in the local area.
• Public Safety: Risks associated with increased customer numbers and vehicle movements during later operating hours.

The report pack also detailed the council's Statement of Licensing Policy¹ and national Guidance issued by the Home Office under Section 182 of the Licensing Act 2003², which outline the framework for promoting the four licensing objectives. These objectives are: the prevention of crime and disorder; public safety; the prevention of public nuisance; and the protection of children from harm.

The report outlined the options available to the Sub-Committee, which included granting the licence with conditions, excluding certain licensable activities, refusing the application, or granting it with different conditions for different parts of the premises or activities.

The report also listed proposed conditions for the licence, covering general responsibilities, prevention of crime and disorder (including CCTV requirements and staff training), public safety (including capacity limits and emergency procedures), prevention of public nuisance (including noise control and customer departure management), and protection of children from harm (including age verification and training on preventing underage sales).

The report pack included a significant amount of correspondence from local residents and Buckingham Town Council³ detailing their objections and support for the application. Concerns raised by residents included noise from music and patrons, particularly late at night and from outdoor areas, which they argued would impact children's sleep and overall well-being. Issues of traffic, parking, litter, and potential increases in anti-social behaviour were also highlighted. Buckingham Town Council indicated its support for the application.

The applicant, Buckingham Football Club, also provided a response to the representations, clarifying their intentions and proposing additional conditions to mitigate residents' concerns. These included limiting large live music events, restricting outdoor regulated entertainment to 10 pm, limiting other outdoor live music acts to seven per year, and ensuring amplified outdoor music finishes by 6:30 pm. They also stated that last orders would be called at 11 pm on Friday and Saturday nights. The club highlighted that a premises licence would bring more stringent regulations and oversight, including police entry rights and potential closure orders, which they believed would benefit local residents. They also offered free associate membership to nearby residents to ensure they are informed of upcoming events.