The popular pub and brewery asked for permission to serve drinks in the morning during sports events and for ‘corporate events’
A popular pub and brewery has been refused permission to serve alcohol earlier to host “corporate events” and screen sports matches. King Street Brewhouse, formerly Cambridge Brewhouse, is allowed to open from 10am on Mondays to Saturdays and from 11am on Sundays, but sought permission to open from 8am every day.
After consulting with police, they added the condition that alcohol could only be bought alongside food before 10am. They also asked for permission to show films in the pub between 10am and 11pm on any day of the week.
James Anderson, a solicitor for City Pub Group Ltd, which owns the pub, told Cambridge City Council’s planning sub-committee that the pub had a “good track record” and was looking for “greater flexibility” to be a “more attractive” location for corporate events.
Cllr Rosy Moore said: “My understanding of corporate work events is that you would start with some work, then a meal and at the end, maybe a few drinks. I’m a little bit confused as to where the market is to start selling alcohol at 8am.”
Mr Anderson said a “range of businesses” could hire the space, which might include sports clubs as well.
Charlie Gant, assistant manager at the pub, said they were planning to offer a full corporate package including breakfast, lunch and dinner. He said they might order alcohol “depending on the business” that hired it.
Cllr Moore said she was concerned the longer hours “would lead to excess drinking”, but Mr Anderson said this was “not the view of the police”. He added: “I think the chances of that are, respectfully, quite remote. I’ve got the sense that the committee want to restrict us and I don’t understand why.”
He asked for no restrictions to be imposed to give the pub “flexibility”, adding that they already open later than permitted – at noon rather than 10am.
Mr Anderson added: “We can’t open to a nice crowd who want to come in at nine o’clock to watch the Lions game. It’s simply to promote a good business – we employ 20 people, we have a brewery – breweries are closing, pubs are closing, and we’re looking to improve our business. Councillors should support that unless there are good grounds not to.”
He reminded the committee of government guidance that licensing “promotes growth and delivers economic benefits” and said that it promoted the licensing objectives.
He said: “I don’t think drinking at eight is a concern health-wise, morally or legally – what’s the difference between that and 11 o’clock if you only have a few pints?”
Council officers recommended that the committee “decide the application on its own merits”.
They allowed the pub to open from 8am on Monday to Saturday, but from 11am on Sundays, and refused permission to let alcohol be sold before 10am. They restricted use of the upstairs terrace to only after 10am and allowed films to be shown between 10am and 11pm.
City Pub Group has 21 working days if they wish to appeal the decision to the Magistrates’ Court.
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