Tougher rules for alcohol licences in central Hove

Extra restrictions are coming for new licenced premises in central Hove.
Hove special stress area extensionHove special stress area extension
Hove special stress area extension

Members of Brighton and Hove City Council Licensing Committee agreed to extend the authority’s Special Stress Area, the name for a zone where new alcohol licences are subject to greater scrutiny.

Drinkers, drug users and related criminal and anti-social behaviour have prompted a review of licensing rules for the centre of Hove.

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Any business applying for a new licence would have to show that it had robust plans to ensure that it would not add to the area’s problems.

Currently the city’s special stress area takes in parts of Hanover, St Peter’s and North Laine, Queen’s Park, Brunswick and Adelaide and Goldsmid wards.

Central Hove Conservative councillor Andrew Wealls was praised for his efforts in bringing the issue to the committee’s attention.

He set out the problems and a call for action in a letter and he was supported by Labour councillor Clare Moonan, who also represents the Central Hove ward.

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As of March 2018 there were 323 pubs, bars and night clubs, 297 restaurants and 89 café bars in Brighton and Hove.

Concern has been raised about the increase in the number of café bars granted a licence in the heart of Brighton and Hove.

A public consultation asked whether the closing time of café bars should be moved from 11.30pm to earlier in the evening, with participants asked to write in their own suggestions.

Following the consultation it was agreed these would be licenced as cafés closing by 10pm.

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Green councillor Lizzie Deane was the driving force behind the new restriction and said she was sure both changes would be welcomed as George Street was as “saturated” as her own ward with licensed premises.

She said: “Residents will welcome the differentiation of cafe bars.

“We need a tighter definition of what is substantial food to give us more clout.”

Councillor Deane said that she would like to see London Road, in her own ward of St Peter’s and North Laine, included in the cumulative impact area, where there are even greater restrictions on new licences.