Brighton & Hove City Council
Licensing Panel (Licensing Act 2003 Functions)
12.30pm 25 March 2026
Virtual
MINUTES
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Present: Councillors Hewitt, Parrott and Thomson
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Officers: Rebecca Siddell (BHCC Lawyer), Sarah Cornell (BHCC Licensing), Mark Thorogood (Sussex Police) and Shaun Hughes (BHCC Democratic Services)
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PART ONE
1 To appoint a Chair for the Meeting
1.1 Councillor Hewitt was appointed Chair for the meeting.
2 Procedural Business
a) Declaration of Substitutes
2.1 There were none.
b) Declarations of Interest
2.2 There were none.
c) Exclusion of the Press and Public
In accordance with section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972 (‘the Act’), the Licensing Panel considered whether the press and public should be excluded from the meeting during an item of business on the grounds that it was likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the press or public were present during that item, there would be disclosure to them of confidential information (as defined in section 100A(3) of the Act) or exempt information (as defined in section 100I of the Act).
2.3 RESOLVED - That the press and public not be excluded from the meeting.
3 Riddle & Finns - Licensing Panel (Licensing Act 2003 Functions)
3.1 The Chair invited the meeting attendees to introduce themselves.
3.2 The Licensing Officer introduced the application to the panel Members.
Answers to questions
3.3 There were no questions from the panel, Sussex Police or the applicant.
Sussex Police statement
3.4 The Police stated that they objected to the Temporary Events Notice (TEN) to serve food and alcohol outside the venue over the Easter weekend, as they considered it contravened licensing objectives. The is no event as such. The proposed times were 12 noon to 12 midnight, with on sales only. The sale of alcohol next to the beach was considered an issue, as was the disposal of packaging. It is considered that the application may set a precedent.
Answers to questions
3.5 The Councillors were informed that the TEN process was not necessarily suitable, however, there was no other route open to the applicant. Given the number of bars on the beach front there is no need for extra drink sales. The Police consider that daytime sales feed into the evening.
Applicant Statement
3.6 The applicant stated that they wanted to erect a gazebo within the venues boundary and engage with passerby’s if the weather is good. The sales will be champagne and oysters/mussels/prawns. The applicant wanted to represent the company positively. The drinks cups are recyclable. The proposal is to close around 6pm.
Answers to questions
3.7 Councillors were informed that the applicant wanted to talk to customers and make them aware of the company brand. The bar will not be big, and champagne will be sold by the glass. The drinks containers will be compostable and recyclable. The applicant considered it would be unlikely that they would sell more than 6 bottles in total.
Summaries
3.8 The licensing officer summarised the case.
3.9 The Police summarised that off sales was the issue.
3.10 The applicant summarised that they only wanted the use the TEN for one of the four-day Easter weekend.
3.11 The legal officer stated that the panel would retire and consider the application.
3.12 The panel retired to consider the application.
The meeting concluded at 1.01pm
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Signed
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Chair |
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