A popular Ryde hotspot is taking the Isle of Wight Council to court after the authority refused its application to stay open until the small hours.
Harbour House, on Ryde Esplanade, has tried twice in 18 months to extend its premises licence.
It was successful in September 2020, but only granted an extra half hour.
Licence to 1.30am refused
In March this year, the restaurant applied to stay open, sell alcohol and play music even later, until 1.30am, seven days a week.
After hearing from licensing officers and concerned neighbours, the Isle of Wight Council’s licensing committee rejected the potential extension.
It is this decision Harbour House is appealing and to do so requires the matter to be determined by magistrates.
Date set for hearing
The first listing of the appeal was heard yesterday (Thursday) at the Isle of Wight Combined Court, in Newport, and a date was set for a hearing, where evidence from both sides would be given and the magistrates would make a ruling.
In his appeal of the council’s decision, Karl Harding, from Harbour House, argued the application was misrepresented due to evidence submitted to the licensing committee.
It is said the evidence given was for a separate event run on a temporary event notice, not the current trading licence.
Formal written notice given
The event in question was in July last year, for which the venue received a formal written notice, with the threat of further enforcement action, after causing ‘significant disturbance’ to local residents.
The council’s committee heard how the event had a bass level, recorded at a nearby property at 1am, higher than that recorded at the closest residential property to the Isle of Wight Festival.
Harding: Will help the business grow
The extension to licence was hoped to the help the business grow, Mr Harding said, as well as improving facilities for customers.
However, the committee felt it had been persuaded by the evidence that no conditions could be applied to mitigate the harm caused.
Speaking at the court yesterday, Edward Elton, on behalf of the authority, said it opposes the appeal.
The case will be heard by magistrates on 18th August .
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed
