Agenda item

To determine four Temporary Event Notices applied for by the Tenant of The Royal Oak PH, 24 Walkern Road, Stevenage.

The Committee considered four objections to Temporary Event Notices (TENs) submitted for The Royal Oak PH, Walken Road, Stevenage.

The Licensing Officer introduced the report and outlined the matter to determine four TENS for the following dates:

It was noted that the TENs would allow for a DJ in the main bar and sports bar areas, and would authorise the sale of alcohol on and off the premises, regulated entertainment and late-night refreshments.

Officers advised that the TENs sought to adopt conditions currently attached to the Premises Licence.

The Chair then invited the Environmental Health Officer to present their case.

The Environmental Health Officer highlighted key points from the submitted evidence and referred to the history of noise complaints relating to the premises. It was noted that the objection from Environmental Health was made on the grounds that the TENs would not promote the Licensing Objectives of the prevention of public nuisance and public safety.

The Environmental Health Officer advised that complaints had been received during 2026 relating to regulated entertainment and patrons congregating outside the premises. However, it was noted that Licensing and Environmental Health Officers had undertaken visits and observations and had identified no significant breaches.

In summary, the concern from the Environmental Health Officer was that the Premises Licence conditions and Licensing Objectives would not automatically apply to the TENs and would thereby be undermined.

The Chair invited all parties to ask questions to the Environmental Health Officer. There were none.

The Chair then invited Mr Gould to present their case.

The Committee then heard from Mr Gould the DPS on behalf of the applicant Park Valley Way Pub Company.

Mr Gould explained to the Committee that his TEN for an event on New Years Eve had been allowed to proceed with the Premises Licence conditions attached. He stated that there had been no complaints relating to that event.

Mr Gould also stated that he had a number of visits from the Council following up complaints, but the Premises had been fully compliant.

The Chair invited all parties to ask questions to Mr Gould.

In response to questions from Environmental Health, it was noted that the planned events would have a DJ in the main bar where the noise limiter was located.

The Chair then invited all parties to sum up.

Licensing Officers declined to provide a summary.

The Environmental Health Officer advised that while there were concerns about the TENs, these were at the lower end of the risk scale, especially as music from a DJ could be controlled by the noise limiter.

It was RESOLVED to permit the TENs to proceed subject to the imposition of all of the Premises Licence Conditions except paragraphs 1 and 2 from Annex 3. 

REASON FOR DECISION

The Committee considered all written and oral representations, the Licensing Objectives, the Council’s Licensing Policy and statutory guidance.

The Committee considered both the interests of both the Premises and neighbouring residents, the Committee decided that it would permit the events to proceed subject to the imposition of all the Premises Licence Conditions except paragraphs 1 and 2 from Annex 3. It was noted that those conditions would be inconsistent with the events being permitted to proceed.

The Committee considered each of the TENs and made the same decision in relation to each one.