Bognor Regis takeaway refused alcohol licence due to anti-social behaviour fears

Best Kebab in Queensway wanted to vary its existing premises licence, which currently allows it to provide late-night refreshment.

The changes would have allowed it to sell alcohol both on and off the premises as well as changing a condition relating to door staff and the times they would have to be present.

An application to vary Best Kebab’s premises licence was refused by Arun District Council’s licensing sub-committee today (Friday January 25).

The owner said he was willing to reduce the proposed hours the takeaway could sell alcohol so it stopped at midnight and promised customers who are already drunk would not be served.

It was described how Best Kebab customers were already ringing the shop to ask when it would be able to sell alcohol.

But both Sussex Police and the council’s own licensing team raised concerns that if allowed the changes would increase the risk of anti-social behaviour, noise and disturbance as well as crime and disorder.

Andy Cooper, chair of the sub-committee, said: “Having heard detail from the responsible authorities Sussex Police and the licensing authority, environmental health and the economy team and having taken matters into consideration we have decided to refuse the application.

“Members did of course give due consideration to the applicant stating he would reduce the hours he was willing to sell alcohol, in particular up to midnight.

“Members had to be guided by the licensing objectives in particular what proposals the applicant intended to adopt and uphold those objectives.

“The representations detail the potential crime and disorder and public nuisance issues had not been addressed in any proper way by the applicant.

“It was unfortunate despite invitations by members to address this issue the applicant failed to make any meaningful proposals as to how he would uphold the objectives in particular those detailed by the responsible authority relating to crime and disorder and public nuisance.

“The members were satisfied that adding further conditions as part of the variation would not prevent potential further breaches.”

Peter Saville, a barrister representing Sussex Police, described how the sale of alcohol in the night-time economy required a ‘particular approach and a professional approach’.

Unlike pubs or bars people served alcohol at a takeaway had the option to continue drinking when they leave ‘beyond the immediate control of the licence holder’.