The Licensing Hearing was scheduled to consider an application for a premises licence for Custom House, located at 18 Quay Walls, Berwick-Upon-Tweed. The meeting was also scheduled to cover procedural matters related to licensing hearings and the election of a chair.

Application for Premises Licence at Custom House

The Licensing Hearing was scheduled to determine an application for a premises licence for Custom House, 18 Quay Walls, Berwick-Upon-Tweed, TD15 1HB, submitted by Mrs Deborah Serafini-Fracassini. The applicant was seeking permission for the licensable activities of live and recorded music, to be available on the premises from Monday to Sunday, between 12:00 and 23:00.

The report pack indicated that seven objections had been received from interested parties, primarily on the grounds of the prevention of public nuisance. Conversely, twenty representations in support of the application had also been received.

The report outlined the process for determining such applications, which involves considering the four statutory licensing objectives: the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, the prevention of public nuisance, and the protection of children from harm. The applicant's operating schedule detailed steps intended to promote these objectives, including measures for crowd management, noise reduction, and the prevention of underage drinking.

The application documents also detailed the specific measures taken to soundproof the premises, which is located in the converted ice house/cellar of The Custom House. These included injecting acoustic foam around the fire exit door frame, lining the frame with acoustic seal, installing an automatic drop-down acoustic seal, and covering the door with soundproofing matting. Additionally, a soundproof block was designed to cover the ventilation grate outside the main entrance. The applicant noted that during a temporary entertainment licence for the Berwick Fringe Music Festival, the venue hosted over 100 people with no reported noise complaints.

However, the report pack also included representations from interested parties raising concerns. These objections focused on potential public nuisance and public safety issues. Specific concerns were raised about the proximity of the premises to residential properties on Palace Street, the potential for noise disturbance from patrons arriving and leaving, and the adequacy of fire exits and public safety measures, particularly given the location near the River Tweed. There were also concerns about the potential for increased parking congestion and environmental impact on the River Tweed Special Area of Conservation. Some objectors also questioned the prominence of public notices regarding the application.

The report pack also detailed the procedure for licensing hearings, including the role of the legal advisor, the election of a chair, and the process for members to disclose interests. It also outlined the potential determinations the Sub-committee could make, including granting the licence with conditions, excluding certain licensable activities, or rejecting the application.

The meeting was scheduled to consider the application in line with the Council's Statement of Licensing Policy and guidance issued under Section 182 of the Licensing Act 2003.

The documents provided for the meeting included the Agenda frontsheet 01st-Oct-2026 10.00 Licensing Hearing and the Public reports pack 01st-Oct-2026 10.00 Licensing Hearing.