The Eastbourne Borough Council Licensing Sub-Committee met to consider an application for a new premises licence for The Snug at the Trinity Centre, Trinity Place, Eastbourne. The report pack included a report from the Chief Executive, the application for the new premises licence, a plan of the premises, emails from the applicant amending times and activities, and representations and agreements relating to the application. The sub-committee was asked to consider representations made against the application and make a decision.

Application for new premises licence - The Snug, Trinity Centre, Trinity Place, Eastbourne, BN21 3BX

The Licensing Sub-Committee was scheduled to consider an application for a new premises licence for The Snug, a coffee shop with an outdoor seating area at the Trinity Centre, Trinity Place, Eastbourne. The application was submitted by Julia Field and Mark Field.

The application requested the following licensable activities:

• Supply of alcohol (on and off the premises) Monday to Saturday 11:00 - 00:00
• Live Music (indoors and outdoors) Monday to Saturday 11:00 - 00:00
• Recorded Music (indoors and outdoors) Monday to Saturday 11:00 - 00:00
• Late night refreshment (indoor and outdoor) Monday to Saturday 23:00 – 00:00
• Opening Hours Monday to Saturday 09:00 - 00:00

According to the report pack, the applicants later emailed the Licensing Team to request amendments to the application, including the removal of live music, recorded music and late night refreshment completely. They also requested that the supply of alcohol be amended to 11:00 – 22:00, and the opening hours to 09:00 – 22:00. A later email requested that the supply of alcohol be amended again to 11:00 – 21:00. The emails from the applicant amending times and activities are available in Appendix 3.

The report pack noted that the Licensing Act 2003 requires applicants to describe steps they intend to take to promote the four licensing objectives¹. The operating schedule detailed these steps, and could be seen in the application form in Appendix 1.

The council received 40 representations from local residents during the consultation period, with concerns relating to the prevention of crime and disorder and prevention of public nuisance. An agreement between the applicant and Sussex Police licensing team was also received, including conditions relating to the prevention of crime and disorder, prevention of public nuisance and protection of children from harm. Details of the representations and agreement are available in Appendix 4.

The report pack stated that in its decision making, the Licensing Sub-Committee must act to promote the four Licensing Objectives, and must have due regard to Eastbourne Borough Council's Statement of Licensing Policy 2024 – 2029 and Revised Guidance issued under section 182 of the Licensing Act 2003².

The report pack outlined the options available to the sub-committee:

• Grant the Licence in the terms as it was applied for.
• Grant the Licence, but modify the conditions as appropriate for the promotion of the licencing objectives
• Grant the Licence, but modify the hours of licensable activity as appropriate for the promotion of the licensing objectives
• Reject the application.

The report of the Chief Executive recommended that the Sub-Committee consider and determine the application for a new premises licence.

Representations

The report pack included 40 representations from local residents, who raised concerns about the application.

One representation stated:

It is a residential area with many elderly residents and therefore totally unsuitable for live music and the sale of alcohol, especially up until midnight!

Several representations were received from residents of Andwell Court, a retirement block of flats directly opposite The Snug. These representations raised concerns about noise pollution, drunkenness and antisocial behaviour, and litter and environmental concerns.

One representation stated:

The Council's view on public fixed furniture is to remove it to try to lessen the impact of the congregation of antisocial behaviour. The Snug has become the targeted area for outdoor antisocial behaviour since having 24/7 fixed furniture outside its premises.

Another representation stated that the crime rate for the area was already higher than expected, and that approving the application could cause it to rise higher and involve more policing.

Sussex Police Agreed Conditions

The report pack also included a list of conditions agreed between the applicant and Sussex Police. These included conditions relating to:

• CCTV
• Training/Authorisation
• Challenge 25
• Incident/Refusal Log
• Off Sales
• Deliveries & Online
• Outside Areas & Permitted Seating Area
• Café Bar
• Events