The Licensing Hearing of Northumberland Council was scheduled to convene on Tuesday, 14 July 2026, to discuss procedural matters and determine a premises licence application. The primary focus of the meeting was an application for a premises licence for the Oldgate Tavern in Morpeth.

Procedure at Licensing Hearings

The meeting was scheduled to begin with a review of the established procedures for conducting licensing hearings. This would have included the formal appointment of a Chair for the meeting and a process for members to declare any interests that might be relevant to the matters under discussion. The council's Code of Conduct, which outlines the requirements for disclosing Disclosable Pecuniary Interests (DPIs) and Other Registrable Interests, was to be referenced.

Application for a Premises Licence: Oldgate Tavern

The main item on the agenda was the determination of an application for a premises licence for the Oldgate Tavern, located at 13 Oldgate, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 1QF¹. The applicant, Oldgate Tavern Ltd, sought permission to supply alcohol both on and off the premises between 11:00 and 23:00, seven days a week.

The report pack indicated that two objections had been received from interested parties. These objections were lodged on the grounds of:

• The prevention of public nuisance: Concerns were raised about potential noise levels, particularly from customer activity and waste disposal, and the impact on nearby residents, including those living in proximity to a first school.
• The protection of children from harm: The proximity to a school was cited as a reason for concern.
• The prevention of crime and disorder: Concerns were raised about potential anti-social behaviour and security issues, especially given the shared boundary with a residential property.

The report pack detailed the applicant's proposed operating schedule and the steps they intended to take to promote the four licensing objectives: the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, the prevention of public nuisance, and the protection of children from harm. These included measures such as CCTV, refusing alcohol to intoxicated individuals, fire safety management, noise control, waste management, and age verification policies like Challenge 25 ².

The report also outlined the legal framework governing such applications, including the Licensing Act 2003³ and relevant guidance from the Secretary of State. It detailed the potential determinations the Sub-Committee could make, which included granting the licence with conditions, excluding certain licensable activities, or rejecting the application if the licensing objectives could not be promoted by any other means.

The report pack also included representations from interested parties. One representation, dated 1 June 2026, objected to the requested licensing hours, citing the proximity to a first school and concerns about neighbourhood noise. Another representation, dated 16 June 2026, from a resident at 11 Oldgate, Morpeth, directly adjacent to the proposed premises, detailed concerns regarding structural and airborne noise, sleep disturbance, and personal safety due to the proposed use of a back court area. This resident requested specific conditions be attached to the licence, including an outside curfew, restrictions on waste disposal, structural soundproofing, and a prohibition on live or amplified music.