The Statutory Licensing Sub-Committee of County Durham Council met to consider an application to review the club premises certificate for the Barnard Castle Workingmen's Club and Institute (also referred to as Barnard Castle WMC). The application for review was made by Durham Constabulary, and a representation was also received from Mr Martyn Radcliffe. The sub-committee was scheduled to discuss the licensing objectives and consider what steps, if any, were appropriate to promote them.

Review of Club Premises Certificate

The meeting was convened to consider an application by Durham Constabulary to review the club premises certificate for Barnard Castle WMC, located on Galgate, Barnard Castle. According to the agenda included in the Public Reports Pack, the application was submitted on 16 July 2025, and the consultation period ended on 13 August 2025.

The report pack included a copy of the review application from Sergeant Caroline Dickenson of Durham Constabulary, which stated that the request for review related to the following licensing objectives outlined in the Licensing Act 2003:

• The prevention of crime and disorder
• Public safety
• The prevention of public nuisance

Sergeant Caroline Dickenson stated that the application was prompted by a serious incident at the premises on 12 July 2025. She noted that Durham Constabulary had applied for a review of the premises licence under section 53A of the Licensing Act 2003, but this legislation only applies to premises authorised to sell alcohol and cannot be used to review a club premises certificate. Sergeant Caroline Dickenson stated that Barnard Castle WMC could still operate under the club premises certificate, but there was no evidence that the venue would be run any differently. She stated:

It is the same people working and managing the venue whether it is operating under the club certificate or premise licence and Durham Constabulary have serious concerns around the management of the premise and how they are upholding the licensing objectives.

Sergeant Caroline Dickenson also stated that the police have limited powers of entry to clubs, which are deemed private places, frustrating their ability to carry out routine licensing checks. She noted that the incident on 12 July 2025 was the fourth violent incident involving patrons of Barnard Castle WMC since 1 March 2025, all of which required police investigation.

The report pack also included a representation from Mr Martyn Radcliffe, a neighbour of the club, who raised concerns about antisocial behaviour, noise, drug dealing, criminal damage, littering, and safeguarding issues. Mr Martyn Radcliffe stated that he had witnessed children below the age of 10 entering the club and witnessing antisocial behaviour. He also raised concerns about fire safety and his personal safety, stating that drunk members of the club had tried to gain access to his rear yard and threatened to attack him.

The Public Reports Pack included Durham County Council's statement of licensing policy 2024 to 2029¹ which states that the council expects all licensed premises to be properly managed to prevent public nuisance and crime and disorder. The policy encourages licensees to provide comprehensive staff training and to minimise the impact of crime, disorder, and anti-social behaviour by their patrons.

The sub-committee was presented with several options, including taking no further action, modifying or adding conditions to the club premises certificate, excluding a licensable activity from the certificate, suspending the certificate for a period not exceeding three months, or revoking the certificate.