The Buckinghamshire Council Licensing (Premises) Sub-Committee met on Tuesday 16 September 2025 to consider an application for a new premises licence for B'Hive, 2-3 High Street, High Wycombe, HP11 2AZ. The application was granted, subject to mandatory conditions and additional conditions agreed upon in response to representations made.

B'Hive, 2-3 High Street, High Wycombe, HP11 2AZ

The sub-committee considered an application by Sean Grace of Dorian Bar Company Ltd, the applicant, for a new premises licence for B'Hive, 2-3 High Street, High Wycombe, HP11 2AZ.

The licensable activities applied for were:

• Films (indoors)
• Live Music (indoors)
• Recorded Music (indoors)
• Other Entertainment Involving Music or Dance (indoors)
• Provision of Late Night Refreshment (indoors)
• Sale by Retail of Alcohol (on the premises)
• Hours premises are open to the public

The proposed hours for these activities were detailed in the Public Reports Pack.

Relevant Representations

The Chief Officer of Police raised no objection to the application. However, one valid objection was received from Shannan Vale, a resident of a flat directly attached to the proposed premises, during the consultation period, citing concerns over public nuisance and public safety.

Vale raised concerns about:

• An increase in noise and antisocial behaviour from customers outside the premises late into the evening.
• Live and recorded music being heard in the adjoining residential building due to a lack of sound insulation.
• The cumulative impact of existing pub noise from The Antelope and proposed noise from B'Hive.
• The unsuitability of the premises due to existing early market activity.

The licensing officer's observations noted that the representation raised valid issues regarding noise and antisocial behaviour.

Licensing Sub-Committee Decision

The sub-committee resolved to grant the premises licence subject to mandatory conditions and additional conditions.

In reaching its decision, the panel considered the written and oral submissions from all parties, the legislation, statutory guidance, and the council's licensing policy. The panel gave equal weight to the written representations from the interested party who was unable to attend the hearing.

The panel acknowledged the concerns raised by the interested party but was not persuaded that a change in licence holder would undermine the licensing objective of preventing public nuisance. The panel noted that no evidence had been presented to support the concerns raised, given that the premises had yet to commence trading.

The panel placed weight on the fact that no objection had been received from Environmental Health, who are considered to be experts on the issue of public nuisance, and therefore felt it would be inappropriate to impose further conditions or a noise management plan at this time.

The panel was reassured that the applicant had invested in in-house music equipment with built-in sound and noise monitoring abilities and that no external sound equipment would be brought onto the premises. The applicant also confirmed that some soundproofing had been completed during recent building refurbishments and that there would be no off-premises alcohol sales. The applicant stated that the music style would be more ambient than that of neighbouring venues.

The panel found the applicant to be open, transparent, and co-operative and noted that the applicant and his co-director were mindful of the concerns raised by the interested party and were agreeable to the addition of further conditions in relation to outdoor areas, pending a separate application for a pavement licence¹, in order to mitigate the same.

The panel was pleased to note that the applicant had attempted to engage with the interested party and was willing to work with the local community to ensure that the premises is inclusive.

The panel considered that the existing and proposed conditions offered by the applicant were reasonable and proportionate, sufficiently promoting the licensing objectives of the prevention of public nuisance, the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, and the protection of children from harm.

The conditions necessary to promote the licensing objectives and agreed in response to the representations made are:

• Staff training in the promotion of the licensing objectives, including awareness of local alcohol-related issues.
• Installation and maintenance of a comprehensive CCTV system.
• Joining the local Pubwatch² scheme.
• Maintaining an incident log.
• Frequent collection of empty drinking vessels from all public areas.
• Monitoring of sound levels during regulated entertainment.
• Keeping windows and doors closed after 22:30.
• Displaying notices requesting patrons to respect local residents and businesses.
• Removal of tables and chairs from the outside area by 22:00 Sunday to Thursday and by 23:00 Friday and Saturday.
• Alcohol supplied for immediate consumption in outside areas to be served only to seated customers.
• Supervision of patrons drinking and/or smoking outside the premises.
• Regular monitoring of outside areas to ensure nearby residents are not disturbed by customer noise and the area is kept clear of litter.
• Thorough cleaning of the outside area at the end of each day.
• Health & Safety training for all staff, including evacuation procedures.
• Ensuring outside furniture does not obstruct emergency exits.
• Operation of a Challenge 25[^4] proof of age scheme.
• Maintaining a record of refused sales of alcohol relating to underage customers.

The panel noted that should concerns relating to the premises occur following the grant of the premises licence, any party is able to request a review of the licence under Section 51 Licensing Act 2003.