The Statutory Licensing Sub-Committee of Durham County Council met to consider an application for a new premises licence. The application was for the United Lounge at the Riverside Sports Complex in Chester-le-Street. The sub-committee was scheduled to hear arguments for and against the application.

Premises Licence Application: United Lounge, Riverside Sports Complex

The sub-committee was scheduled to consider an application for a new premises licence for the United Lounge, Riverside Sports Complex, Riverside South, Chester-le-Street, Co Durham, DH3 3QR. The applicant was Park View Academy of Sport Limited. The application requested permission to supply alcohol for consumption on the premises from 4pm to 10pm Monday to Friday, 12 noon to 9pm on Saturday and 12 noon to 5pm on Sunday, with opening hours mirroring these times, but with earlier opening on Saturdays and Sundays.

According to the report pack, Durham Constabulary had initially raised concerns about the application, but these were resolved after the applicant agreed to add extra conditions to their operating schedule¹. These additional conditions included:

• All staff receiving induction training on the premises licence and the four licensing objectives[^3] [^3]: The four licensing objectives are: the prevention of crime and disorder; public safety; the prevention of public nuisance; and the protection of children from harm.
• All staff to be fully trained to perform their role, including times of operation, licensable activities and all conditions, specifically around the Licensing Act 2003, the sale of alcohol and precautions to prevent the sale of alcohol to people under the age of 18.
• Refresher training for all staff every twelve months.
• A digital CCTV system to be installed and in operation at all times.
• The premises maintaining an incident book.
• Notices displayed in prominent locations of the age verification policy (Challenge 25) and for proxy sales.

However, the Licensing Authority had received one objection to the application from the Riverside Residents' Association. The residents' association cited the prevention of public nuisance as the reason for their objection. They stated that residents had regularly experienced noise and nuisance from the operation of football at the site, including unacceptable levels of noise, foul and abusive language, and spectators banging drums. They also complained that patrons park in the estate rather than using the public car parks, causing further nuisance. The residents' association argued that licensing alcohol sales would exacerbate this situation.

The residents were concerned that alcohol would be permitted to be removed from the United Lounge and taken onto the external balcony, which would result in spectators drinking on the open-air balcony while watching matches and shouting with less inhibition. The Riverside Residents Association asked the council to refuse the application, or to place a restriction on the licence preventing the removal of alcohol from the United Lounge.

In response, Park View Academy of Sport stated that the activities referenced in the objection were not directly connected to the licensing application, which solely related to the sale of alcohol. They also stated that alcohol consumption on the external balcony would be strictly monitored by staff, and that signage, physical boundaries, and responsible operating procedures would be in place to ensure behaviour was controlled. They also noted that Step 6 football matches are not classified as designated matches under the Sporting Events (Control of Alcohol) Act 1985, meaning that alcohol can be sold and consumed on the premises (if licensed), consumed in view of the pitch and brought into the ground.

The report pack included extracts from Durham County Council's Statement of Licensing Policy, which states that the council will expect applicants to demonstrate that suitable and sufficient measures have been identified, and will be implemented and maintained, with the intention of preventing public nuisance. The council also expects applicants to offer measures designed to minimise the impact on residents in respect of both public nuisance and crime and disorder if an external structure or area is to be used by customers.

The report pack also included extracts from the Section 182 Guidance, which states that licensing authorities and responsible authorities should focus on the effect of the licensable activities at the specific premises on persons living and working in the area around the premises which may be disproportionate and unreasonable. The guidance also states that conditions relating to noise nuisance will usually concern steps appropriate to control the levels of noise emanating from premises.