Social club in east Leeds gets licence extension refused

An application was submitted to the council by Seacroft Village Hall Social Club to extend the hours for the sale of alcohol to 11am-11pm on weekdays; until midnight on Saturdays and until 10.30pm on Sundays.

Leeds City Council’s Licensing Sub Committee refused that request but did, however, agree to extend the licensing area, meaning drinks could now be consumed outside the building.

Supporters of the application said many of the drinkers are elderly and well-behaved, but one resident objecting to the proposals said the clientele became rowdy on Sunday afternoons, claiming one used vulgar language towards him while he was sat in his garden.

William Askin, secretary of Seacroft Village Hall, told the meeting earlier this month: “The case is quite simple – we would like to be able to consume alcohol outside, which is still within the boundary of our premises.

“The Government proposed legislation to allow licensed premises to use areas outside to allow social distancing. We wrongly assumed this would cover us.

“On July 12, we had guests and members outside on our reopening. Fortunately, Leeds United scored a last minute goal securing promotion, and there was a huge cheer from the 10 or 15 people that were there.

“This prompted the first complaint. This is something that is not likely to happen again in 16 years.

“Drinking outside will only take place on bank holidays and Sundays, because we don’t open at any other time during the day. The clientele of our club are generally elderly and well-behaved.”

He added Covid regulations had reduced footfall “considerably”, and that the club has now closed down for three weeks following a member of staff testing positive for the virus.

The meeting was told that the establishment had made use of temporary events notices, which allow activities outside the licence, such as outdoor drinking, on specific dates.

Speaking against the application, nearby resident George Floyd said: “Our objection is based on the potential for noise and disturbance to our quiet enjoyment of our garden and property.”

He added the hours would give people at least four-and-a-half hours to consume alcohol, claiming: “People are most convivial after lengthy drinking, and want to bid people goodnight in a loud manner.

“Alongside all the loud goodnights, there is the added noise of the taxis arriving, car doors slamming and another round of goodnights.

“We have had to put up with this all through the summer – it tends to start at noon and tends to go on into the evening.

“As more and more alcohol is consumed, the noise levels tend to rise until it is unbearable – the noise includes shouting, shrieking laughter, horn-pipping from passers-by and football chanting.

“When under the influence of alcohol, attendees seem to deem this behaviour acceptable – we do not, and do not see why we should have to put up with it.

“On the last bank holiday in August, I was in our garden and was shouted at by name by a village hall customer and, excuse my language, called a ‘w*****’ – why should we have to put up with such behaviour?”

Mr Floyd then revealed he was a former secretary of the Village Hall, and claimed there was “no commercial need” for the extension of hours.

Mr Askin responded: “We have this year spent £24,000 in repairs, renewals and redecorations – this is a commercial enterprise and we have to keep going.

“As far as the events go, when we were told we shouldn’t be outside under our normal licensing certificate, we took temporary event notice out covering the weekends, so we could enjoy some of the summer and the reopening.

“I believe we do a good job.”

The meeting was then ended.

The decision – made in the following days – saw the board unanimously agree to refuse the extension to the hours for the serving drinks.

However, it granted the application to include the external area within the licensed premises, but only in relation to that part of the external area of the property in front of the building, and with a condition that use of the external area must end at 9pm.