The Licensing Sub-Committee is scheduled to convene to consider a report regarding a premises licence variation application for Cactus Jacks Honky Tonk, located at 176 Devonshire Street. The application, submitted by Albany Construction (Yorkshire) Limited, seeks to extend the terminal hour for all licensable activities to 03:00 hours and closing hours to 03:30 hours, seven days a week. Councillors Abdul Khayum (Joint Chair of the Licensing Committee), Mike Drabble, and Cliff Woodcraft will be present at the meeting, with Councillor Karen McGowan as a reserve member.

Licensing Act 2003: Cactus Jacks Honky Tonk, 176 Devonshire Street, Sheffield, S3 7SG

The primary item for discussion is the application to vary the premises licence for Cactus Jacks Honky Tonk. Albany Construction (Yorkshire) Limited, the current premises licence holders, submitted the application on 22 August 2025, seeking to:

• Extend the terminal hour for all licensable activities to 03:00 hours, seven days a week.
• Extend closing hours to 03:30 hours, seven days a week.

The report pack notes that there is no request to alter the licensable activities at the site, to alter the conditions on the Premises Licence, or any proposed alteration to the layout of the premises.

The application has been referred to the Licensing Sub-Committee due to unresolved representations from interested parties, including:

• Environmental Protection Service – Responsible Authority
• Planning Service – Responsible Authority
• 'Changing Sheff' – City Centre Residents Association
• Six local residents

The report pack includes copies of the notices sent to the licence holders and interested parties, inviting them to attend the hearing.

The report of the Chief Licensing Officer outlines the policies to consider, including the Sheffield City Council Statement of Licensing Policy and revised guidance issued under section 182 of the Licensing Act 2003.

The Licensing Act 2003 requires the Licensing Authority to carry out its functions with a view to promoting the licensing objectives, which are:

• the prevention of crime and disorder;
• public safety;
• the prevention of public nuisance;
• the protection of children from harm.

The report pack states that the sub-committee should consider the representations made and take steps to promote the Licensing Objectives. The options available to the committee are:

• To grant the premises licence in the terms requested.
• To grant the premises licence with conditions.
• To reject the whole or part of the application.

Representations

The Environmental Protection Service has lodged a formal objection, citing concerns over the increased potential for public nuisance arising from the later hours of trading and regulated entertainment. They highlight that no additional steps to promote the licensing objectives have been offered as part of the application. The Environmental Protection Service also note that Cactus Jacks Honky Tonk is in breach of condition 19 of its current licence, as no sound limiter is fitted to restrict and control the sound system . They also state that the Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS), Paul McIvor, confirmed that it has been common practice to leave the outer lobby doors open, which is in direct contradiction to advice given by the Environmental Protection Service. The Environmental Protection Service concludes that they consider it appropriate to maintain an objection to the proposal to further extend the premises' hours of licensable activities and opening to the public .

The Planning Service has also submitted a formal representation, stating that the proposed hours of use until 03:30 every day will result in increased noise and disturbance, which would have an unacceptable impact on the living conditions of nearby occupiers. They state that a planning application would be required for any extended opening hours and is unlikely to be viewed favourably.

'Changing Sheff' – City Centre Residents Association, has objected to the application, stating that permitting longer opening times is highly likely to have an adverse effect on the licensing objective the prevention of public nuisance . They state that Cactus Jacks Honky Tonk is currently in contravention of its licensing conditions by allowing noise to break out from its premises due to a failure to correctly manage the double-door entrance. They also state that Cactus Jacks Honky Tonk fails to correctly manage the use of external seating, which can only be used between 07:30 and 19:00.

Six local residents have also objected to the application, citing concerns over noise, late-night disturbances, and antisocial behaviour.

Advice to Members on Declaring Interests at Meetings

Councillors Abdul Khayum, Mike Drabble, and Cliff Woodcraft will be advised to declare any interests they may have in the business to be considered at the meeting. They will be advised that if they have a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest¹ (DPI) relating to any business that will be considered at the meeting, they must not participate in any discussion of the business at the meeting, or participate in any vote taken on the matter at the meeting.