Cleveland Police Oppose Late-Night Extension at Hartlepool’s Tipsy Doorman Bar
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4am Alcohol Bid Sparks Police Objection Over Crime and Disorder Fears
13th March 2026
Plans to allow a Hartlepool town centre bar to serve alcohol until 4am for a special three-day event have been formally opposed by Cleveland Police, who warn the move could reverse recent progress in reducing crime and anti-social behaviour in the area.
A report due before Hartlepool Borough Council’s Licensing Sub-Committee on the 20th of March 2026 will consider a Temporary Event Notice (TEN) submitted for The Tipsy Doorman, 56 Church Street, covering the nights of 27, 28 and 29 March. The notice seeks permission to sell alcohol and provide entertainment from 11am until 4am on each day.
However, both Cleveland Police and the council’s Environmental Health team have now lodged formal objections meaning the proposals have to be put before a council committee for a final decision.
Police warn of impact on crime and disorder
Cleveland Police say extending alcohol sales until 4am would undermine licensing objectives relating to the prevention of crime and disorder and public nuisance. Police licensing officer PC Clare Lawton explained that when the venue previously applied for a full premises licence, councillors decided the appropriate closing time should be 2am, significantly earlier than the 4.30am as originally requested. The decision followed evidence presented to the council showing significant levels of crime and disorder linked to the area during the early hours of the morning.
According to the police statement, incidents have reduced noticeably since the earlier 2am closing time was introduced, something officers believe is directly linked to the tighter hours.
Granting the temporary notice, police say, would effectively bring back the late-night trading hours previously associated with disorder and anti-social behaviour.
Officers also questioned the purpose of the application, suggesting the event notice appears to be seeking extended hours for normal trading rather than a genuine one-off event.
Environmental health also raises concerns
Hartlepool Borough Council’s Environmental Protection team has also objected to the plans, warning that allowing alcohol sales until 4am could lead to increased disturbance for nearby residents. Officials say a recent noise complaint linked to the premises highlights the potential for disruption if opening hours are extended further into the early morning.
The proposed late-night event comes after police were called to incidents involving the venue in the past, when in June 2025, Cleveland Police confirmed that a man was charged with assault following an incident at The Tipsy Doorman, highlighting ongoing policing concerns connected to the town centre night-time economy.
Because objections have been lodged to the proposals, councillors on Hartlepool Borough Councils Licensing Sub-Committee must now hold a hearing to decide whether the Temporary Event Notice should be allowed.
Members will have the power to either approve the notice, allowing the extended hours to go ahead, or issue a counter-notice, which would block the event entirely.
The hearing will take place at 10am on the 20th of March at Hartlepool's Civic Centre.
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