Hecklers disrupt bowling club's alcohol hearing

Angry hecklers disrupted a virtual council meeting in which a bowling club was applying for permission to sell alcohol.

A licensing panel hearing on Monday was interrupted by angry neighbours of Hove and Kingsway Bowling Club alleging previous anti-social behaviour and noise incidents from the venue.

One complained of loud rock bands curtailing her "human rights" to have her windows open during the summer.

But a spokesperson for the club, which has 700 members, said there had been no such complaints since it relocated to a new site nearby two months ago.

Now part of the outdoor sports hub building created as part of Brighton and Hove City Council's £15m seafront revamp, the club's change of address has necessitated it having to reapply for an alcohol permit.

The club, described as "a bit overzealous" with its previous events, has applied to sell alcohol from 11:00 to midnight Monday to Saturday.

Some residents spoke of people urinating outside after leaving one Christmas party and asked for assurances that alcohol would only be sold to club members.

They said their requests for "moderation and a reasonable set of behaviour" had so far been ignored.

However, the club's agent, Nick Semper, founder of The Licensing Guys, said the hearing concerned the current application only, not a review of what might have gone on before.

He said there was no evidence of disorder or complaints in the papers presented to the panel, but conceded the club could install a noise limiter if required.

Neighbours were also given assurances that events would not spill outside onto the bowling greens.

Neither the council's licensing or environmental health teams objected to the application, although the latter asked for the club's doors and windows to stay closed unless people were arriving or leaving.

The panel - councillors David McGregor, Ivan Lyons and Alison Thomson - retired to reach their decision, which should be made public within five working days.

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