The Licensing Sub-Committee of Boston Council was scheduled to consider an application for a premises licence for Pilgrim's Local, a convenience store located at 3-4 Market Place, Boston. The meeting's agenda focused on the potential impact of granting this licence on the promotion of the four licensing objectives, particularly in light of concerns raised by Lincolnshire Police and the Council's own Statement of Licensing Policy.

Pilgrim's Local, 3-4 Market Place, Boston

The primary item scheduled for discussion was an application for a premises licence for Pilgrim's Local, located at 3-4 Market Place, Boston. The applicant, Mr Thiviyanthan Arulananthapillai, sought permission to sell alcohol for consumption off the premises between 08:00 and 23:00, seven days a week.

Lincolnshire Police submitted a representation raising concerns about the application, citing the premises' location within the Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) area. This order, introduced in 2015, restricts the consumption of alcohol in a designated part of Boston town centre to address issues of drunken behaviour and street drinking. The police representation highlighted previous refusals of premises licence applications for this location in January 2025 and July 2025, based on concerns that conditions would not adequately address the existing crime and disorder and public nuisance in the area. They also noted a perceived lack of understanding from the applicant regarding the licensing regime and the specific challenges of operating within the PSPO area.

The report pack included detailed statistics from Lincolnshire Police regarding drunken behaviour and street drinking incidents in various beat areas, differentiating between town centre and rural locations. These statistics indicated that the Market Place area, where Pilgrim's Local is situated, experienced a significant number of incidents, particularly during evening hours.

The applicant's operating schedule outlined proposed steps to promote the licensing objectives. These included measures such as:

• Storing spirits securely behind the counter and only selling alcohol via trained staff.
• Restricting the sale of beers, lagers, and ciders exceeding 6.5% ABV, and prohibiting the sale of single cans or bottles except for larger formats.
• Installing and maintaining a CCTV system, with footage retained for a minimum of 31 days and accessible to police.
• Operating a Challenge 25 age verification policy.
• Not displaying alcohol pricing in shop windows or externally, and avoiding irresponsible alcohol promotions.

The report also referenced the Boston Borough Council's Statement of Licensing Policy, which acknowledges the issues associated with street drinking within the PSPO area and expects applicants for off-licences in such areas to implement measures to mitigate detrimental impacts. This includes suggestions such as restricting high-strength alcohol sales, limiting single can sales, using CCTV, and ensuring windows provide a clear view into the premises.

Expert reports from Complete Licensing, including those by Sandy Tracey and Richard Bunch, were also provided. Sandy Tracey's report noted that the premises was clean and well-presented, located in a busy market square with seating areas. While no street drinking or anti-social behaviour (ASB) was observed during her inspection, she identified potential concerns regarding the current CCTV system's operability and the lack of first aid provision. Richard Bunch's analysis of crime statistics indicated that while ASB offences constituted a portion of the total crime in the nearest hotspot, they did not form the majority. He also noted that the PSPO targets individual behaviour rather than the availability of alcohol, and that a well-run off-licence with appropriate conditions might not necessarily have a negative impact.

The report pack also included previous decision notices from January 2025 and July 2025, detailing the refusal of premises licence applications for the same location. The reasons cited for these refusals included the applicant's insufficient knowledge of the area's issues and the belief that no conditions could adequately promote the licensing objectives.

The agenda indicated that the Sub-Committee would consider these representations and evidence to determine whether to grant the premises licence, potentially with modified conditions, exclude certain licensable activities, or refuse the application entirely. The decision would be based on whether the proposed steps would promote the licensing objectives.