The addition of live music at a Prescot pub will disturb residents and increase public nuisance, it has been claimed.
An application has been made to Knowsley Council by Wasp Group Limited to amend the premises licence at the Hope and Anchor pub on High Street. The company, which owns the licence for the town centre location, is seeking to provide live and recorded music from 11am to midnight during its trading hours on Fridays and Saturdays.
The pub would have live and recorded music from 11am to 11pm Monday to Thursday and from midday to 11pm on Sundays. The extended hours are also being sought for all Bank or Public holidays - including Christmas Eve, Boxing Day, Easter Monday and New Year’s Day - and on any Sunday or Monday forming part of a Bank or Public holiday weekend.
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Wasp Group Limited, the St Helens based land operator, is seeking to sell alcohol for consumption both on and off the premises. The plans, which will be discussed by members of Knowsley Council’s licensing committee on Thursday, have been objected to by Prescot North ward councillor Frances Wynn.
In her representation, Cllr Wynn said she was against the plans based on an increase public nuisance. She said: “I live on Hope Street and I am against the proposed variation which seeks to add live music, recorded music and similar entertainment indoors.
Cllr Wynn made some grim claims about the current behaviour of patrons and felt the licence tweaks could exacerbate the issues. She said: “At present loud music being played inside the premises, including a DJ with karaoke, can be heard outside particularly of a night time when patrons come out of the side door to smoke in the street.
“Furthermore, bottles are regularly disposed of late at night at around midnight disrupting residents’ sleep. There have also been incidents of fighting in the premises and patrons urinating by the back gate of the premises.
“Allowing this variation will increase public nuisance to residents, many of which are elderly.” In its application, Graham Black of Wasp Group stated they will “make every possible effort to ensure the safety of our customers and the residents around us are our top priority.”
The document submitted said that “noise will be kept to a minimum” and it is “greatly reduced” due to extra inner doors at the pub that holds around 200 people. The application will be considered by the sub-committee next week.
