Mareel should be refused extension to licensing hours at weekends
Rosalind GriffithsThe new cinema and music venue Mareel should stick to core licensing hours for the sale of alcohol, Lerwick Community Council agreed at its meeting this week.
The venue had asked to be allowed to extend licensing hours until 2am on Fridays and Saturdays, but the community council opted to keep Mareel’s hours the same as other licensed premises in the town, with the closing time of 1am. Only nightclubs are allowed to sell alcohol until 2am.
Mareel’s licensing hours for its provisional premises licence are likely be 11am to 1am, seven days a week, for sales on the premises, and 11am to 10pm for off-sales, seven days a week.
Community council member Gussie Angus recommended approving this, the current policy, and was seconded by member Averil Simpson.
Member Cecil Smith said that if Mareel wanted an extension to those times the application would have to go before the licensing board.
In an ensuing discussion, member Kathy Greaves questioned whether unaccompanied children, possibly going to the venue for music tuition, would be admitted to drinking areas. She asked for more specific information, and also queried the outdoor facilities.
Member Michael Peterson said that if drinkers took drinks outside he would recommend cardboard or paper containers.
Pat MARLEY
Regarding the (White Efelunt) sorry The Mareel application for extended licencing hours it is good to see that the comittee have refused. The Zoo is in the middle of a residential area enough said.
As for Ms Greaves question, unquote will unaccompanied children be allowed in licenced areas? I suggest she reads the Licencing laws where it states no unaccompanied child is allowed in area where alcohol is served. What is she getting paid for?
Kathy Greaves
Er, um… Sorry Pat Marley, who is getting paid, and for what? Not me. None of us are paid.
All Community Councillors volunteer their time to attend regular meetings where issues local to the area in which they live are aired, discussed, and sometimes voted upon – community councillors in Lerwick currently cover a full range of ages, from teenagers to oldies, some even older than I am.
And, as a former licensee I have some knowledge of the licensing laws.
Mareel’s application (www.shetland.gov.uk/licensing) proposes that children (from aged 0-15 and young persons aged 16 and 17) be allowed in Mareel, “without restriction except that they will not be permitted access to any area in which alcohol is sold unless supervised by an adult”, (clause 6b) and will be allowed entry during all opening hours.
I don’t know the proposed opening hours of Mareel, but the hours proposed for the sale of alcohol is “Statement of core times when alcohol will be sold for consumption on premises” is Monday through to Sunday 11am to 1am – perhaps later with an extension of hours for special events. Don’t know if any readers/would be audiences will be happy to have babies and young children in such an environment late at night and into the early hours.
It is not easy trying to listen to live music whilst babies cry and toddlers run about on the dance floor – I’d be the first to leave, and have done so in the past, in Lerwick. There is a time and place.
As for children being accompanied, who is to say that once child/youngster has gained entry into a licensed are with parent or similar, that they stay together – people have a habit of moving about, networking, and it is a large building which could hold over 1,600 people at any one time, in various rooms.
We have to put public safety above all other considerations, especially that of the very young and vulnerable, which is why I, and others, would like more clarification on what is being planned. For which I offer no apology.
Yours truly
Mrs Kathy Greaves