The Licensing Sub-Committee A of Carmarthenshire Council met on Wednesday 26 August 2026 to consider an application for a premises licence for 2 Fountain Row, Laugharne. The committee granted the licence, subject to the applicant withdrawing the request to show films and adhering to agreed conditions with the police and public health services.

Application for a Premises Licence at 2 Fountain Row, Laugharne

The Licensing Sub-Committee A considered an application from Richard Pearce for a premises licence at 2 Fountain Row, Laugharne. The application sought to allow the supply of alcohol from Sunday to Thursday between 11:00 and 00:00, and Friday and Saturday between 11:00 and 01:00. It also proposed opening hours from Sunday to Thursday between 11:00 and 00:30, and Friday and Saturday between 11:00 and 01:30. An initial request to show films on Monday evenings was also part of the application.

Representations were received from the Licensing Authority, Public Health Services, Dyfed Powys Police, and Laugharne Township Community Council. The Licensing Authority, represented by Licensing Lead Mr. Emyr Jones, noted that while the applicant had no previous enforcement actions at the premises in question, the applicant had previously been the Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) at the Santa Clara public house in St. Clears. The licence for that establishment had been reviewed twice by the police, leading to additional conditions being attached in 2020 and the licence being revoked in 2021 due to a lack of management control and breaches of COVID regulations. Mr. Jones stated that the applicant had agreed to proposed licence conditions put forward by the police and public health services, and that the wording in the applicant's operating schedule was not sufficiently precise to form clear and enforceable conditions.

Dyfed Powys Police, represented by Police Licensing Officer N. Williams, initially made representations outlining conditions to promote the licensing objectives, including the installation of CCTV, a Challenge 25 scheme, refusal of service to intoxicated persons, no unsupervised children on site, and a zero-drugs policy. These conditions were subsequently agreed by the applicant.

Public Health Services, represented by Environmental Health Officer Mr. Osian Thomas, also made representations focusing on the prevention of public nuisance and public safety. They recommended conditions including the submission of a Noise Management Plan (NMP), no removal of glass from the premises boundary, prominent signage regarding noise and glassware, closure of windows and external doors after 21:00, restrictions on bin emptying times, and no alcohol consumption in external areas after 22:00. These conditions were also agreed by the applicant.

Laugharne Township Community Council, represented by Clerk Tina Roberts, objected to the application. Their primary concerns were the potential for increased noise and nuisance from the sale of alcohol to the general public, and the risk to children from inappropriate films if membership was not enforced. They specifically objected to the inclusion of a film licence, requesting that if a premises licence were granted, the film licence be removed entirely unless stringent age-verification procedures, supervision of children, and restrictions on film times and alcohol consumption in film areas could be agreed. They also requested that alcohol sales remain restricted to members only and that Sunday closing be at 23:00 rather than midnight.

During the meeting, the applicant, Mr. Richard Pearce, stated that he was happy to withdraw the request for a film licence to address the concerns raised by Laugharne Township Community Council. He also addressed concerns about noise, noting the presence of other licensed premises nearby and stating that he lived above the premises and was not aware of significant noise issues during recent temporary operating periods.

The Sub-Committee resolved to grant the premises licence subject to the withdrawal of the request to show films and the licence conditions agreed between the applicant, the police, and public health services. The committee noted that while they acknowledged the concerns raised by Laugharne Town Council, these were not supported by real evidence and were not shared by the relevant responsible authorities. They also recognised the weight to be given to the views of the police and public health services. The premises had a history of being licensed from 2005 to 2023 as a chip shop and had recently operated under a club premises certificate. Temporary Event Notices (TENs) had been issued on five occasions with no complaints notified to the Licensing Authority. There was no previous history of licensing enforcement action at the premises itself.