The premises is a former Polish Food shop and is part of a terraced row of shops on the junction between Bromyard Road and St Johns. It is adjacent to the former Angel Inn which (sadly) in now retail (A1) premises. The frontage is 3.9m wide. The trading area is 32 sq m including an 11 sq m servery and keg store area. There are two exit doors: one to the pavement and one to a shared rear access area. A change of use planning application has been made.
a) List here steps you will take to promote all four licensing objectives together.
We propose to run the premises as a Micro Pub: a small-scale traditional alehouse focusing on the sale of locally produced real ales and ciders to be enjoyed in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere. To support this objective there will be no music, no gaming or fruit machines, no televisions or screened sport. The business model attracts customers by providing choice and quality rather than competitive pricing.
We have been personal licence holders for more than ten years and have maintained a solid reputation for running The Brunswick Arms as a well-managed, trouble-free public house.
We will adopt a sensible drinking policy by avoiding irresponsible drink promotions that can lead to anti-social behaviour.
We will undertake ongoing risk assessments regarding public safety and fire risk.
We will actively control noise to prevent public nuisance.
We will adopt measures to control children's presence on the premises and protect them from harm.
b) The prevention of crime and disorder
The old-fashioned values of the Micro Pub virtually eliminate nuisance, noise and public order issues. We will not be stocking shots, alcopops etc. and, with the focus on real ales and ciders, expect to attract the more mature customer who already has a sensible attitude to drinking. No drinks will be allowed to be taken outside on the public footpath. We will avoid irresponsible drink promotions that could lead to anti-social behaviour. In addition we will encourage sensible consumption by offering ales and ciders in one-third, and two-third pint measures to enable customers to sample a greater variety of flavours whilst keeping overall alcohol consumption down.
Any customers who present in an intoxicated state will be refused service and asked to leave the premises. Any service refusal or anti-social behaviour will be logged in an incident book.
Notices will support staff training to encourage customers to leave quietly.
c) Public safety
There will be ongoing Health and Safety risk assessment to identify and eliminate potential hazards such as slips, trips, electric shock, hazardous substances ans manual handling.
There are two public exits from the premises: the front entrance and the rear fire door which exits into a rear shared yard. Both will provide escape routes in the case of emergency and will be clearly signed.
A record will be kept to show that electrical equipment, smoke alarms and other fire safety equipment is regularly checked and identified faults rectified promptly.
Staff will be instructed on how to deal with emergencies and hazards that may occur during trading hours.
Fixed furniture will be positioned and designed so as not to impede escape.
d) The prevention of public nuisance
The Micro Pub is markedly less intensive than a traditional pub. Its small trading area naturally limits the number of customers and, with no TV, gaming machines or music, the only noise is from conversation.
It is common practice for Micro Pubs to open shorter hours than normal pubs and, as with The Brunswick Arms, we will be advertising shorter hours than the permitted hours to allow flexibility of response to trading demands. As an example, The Brunswick Arms 'officially' closes at 11pm at weekends (although licensed until 01:30). No additional customers are allowed in after 11pm and we only continue to trade if we are confident it is prudent to do so - a policy that has led to ten years trouble-free trading.
For this proposal the advertised trading hours will be reminiscent of pre 24-hour-drinking changes: Monday to Thursday a lunchtime session from 11-3pm followed by an evening session of 5-9:30pm. Fridays and Saturdays a single session from 11-10pm. Sundays an 11-3pm lunchtime session only. Closed Sunday evening.
No waste (particularly glass) will be placed into the outside bins after 8pm.
e) The protection of children from harm
There are no activities proposed that give rise to concern about children's safety. There will be no adult entertainment, gaming machines or gambling.
A strict Challenge 21 policy will be enforced and proof of age from accredited sources will be required.
The lack of proprietary brands, shots and alcopops, coupled with a lack of standard pub entertainment streams mentioned above results in the Micro Pub being less likely to appeal to children and the sensible drinking approach will ensure that children are not exposed to instances of violence or disorder.