Kingswinford pub granted permission for later opening hours despite neighbours’ concerns

A meeting of the authority’s Licensing Sub-Committee on July 15 allowed an application from The Old Court House on High Street, Kingswinford.

Applicants Kharel and Regmi Company Limited asked for permission to open until 1.30am and play recorded music until 1am which prompted three letters of objection from nearby residents.

One of the letters objecting to the plan said: “From our past experiences, when the previous owner had special extended licences for wedding receptions or parties, we know there will be an increase in noise late at night either from inside the venue or from people leaving.

“There was a tendency for the roads (and footpaths) in The Village, situated opposite the Old Court House, to be used as an overflow car park, if the car park was full.

“Taxis also waited in The Village too, often keeping their engines running while waiting for customers as the events finished.”

Councillors ruled the venue should be allowed to open from 10am to 12.30am from Monday to Thursday and until 1.30am on Friday and Saturday.

The premises will be permitted to open from noon until 12.30am on Sundays.

Recorded music will be allowed until midnight from Sunday to Thursday and until 1am on Friday and Saturday.

The licence will also have conditions that doors and windows at the venue should be closed when music is playing and there must be signs in the car park asking customers to leave quietly.

An application also due for consideration by the sub-committee for a licence to sell alcohol at Quick Stop in Park Road, Quarry Bank was withdrawn.

A report on the application by Dudley’s licensing team said they would not support the granting of a licence because they believed the applicant would not follow regulations.

The report said: “ He has received previous verbal and written warnings from licensing officers and recently had a premises licence that he was responsible for revoked.”