Stanmer House suggests compromise in bid to stay open later

KSD Support Services, which is the leaseholder, has applied to be allowed to serve alcohol until 1am on a Saturday and Sunday at the venue in Stanmer Park, Brighton.

The company also wants an extra 30 minutes of drinking-up time so the venue would close at 11.30pm on Sunday to Thursday and 1.30am on Saturdays and Sundays.

KSD also wanted to be permitted to play music and serve late-night refreshment until 1am on Saturdays and Sundays.

But Sussex Police were concerned about potential problems and had concerns that events could turn into raves, attracting “unwanted guests” if permission was granted to play music outside.

So KSD agreed to a police proposal that there should be a “hard finish” to music being played in the outdoor area.

As a result, the police dropped their objection to the later hours for drinks to be served inside Stanmer House.

READ MORE: Rave fears for public park over plans to play music into the early hours

Two Stanmer villagers objected to KSD’s application to amend the venue’s licence – as did Labour councillor Jackie O’Quinn, who chairs Brighton and Hove Estates Conservation Trust.

Their objections were considered by a Brighton and Hove City Council licensing panel made up of three councillors on Monday.

The panel was told KSD had agreed to submit a monthly calendar of events to the council’s licensing department and the police and to keep a noise log of neighbours’ complaints.

But a proposal by KSD to relax the licence condition requiring customers to remain seated with their drinks prompted some concern.

KSD solicitor Piers Warne said the condition that banned customers standing while drinking had proved hard to enforce, particularly at events when people wanted to stand around and chat while drinking.

Police fear events at Stanmer Park could turn into raves

Conservative councillor Dee Simson, who chaired the licensing panel, said she remembered approving the licence in July last year, adding that there was flexibility so that customers could buy drinks at the bar.

She said: “Why do you feel that completely removing this condition will satisfy the licensing objectives? I can understand for booked events but by removing that on a day-to-day basis in the café, what is your thinking?”

She was concerned that if the condition was removed, it could result in Stanmer House becoming a “stand up” drinking venue like a traditional pub.

Mr Warne said there would be no harm in allowing people to stand with their drinks because Stanmer House was not like a city centre venue but one geared to events. He said: “When the venue operates as a restaurant and café up to 11pm anyway, people may want to stand up with their drink if they meet someone they haven’t seen for a while.

“Removing a condition entirely isn’t about the main times when you want it to happen.

“It would work well if it was saved for pre-booked events but that doesn’t account for hosting a Christmas party for residents of Stanmer Village, where people would want to stand up with a drink.

“Is there any harm in doing it when there aren’t any pre-booked events, given there is a hard stop of 11pm?”

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He said Stanmer House was not operating in the same way as it did when the previous tenant, a business owned by the Brighton-born impresario Alex Proud, went bust last year.

Mr Warne said that Stanmer House hosted monthly events for residents and welcomed feedback any time.

The panel, which also included Independent councillor Kate Knight, retired to reach its decision which should be made public within five working days.