New Licensing Proposal for Barn at Local Pub Sparks Concerns From Local Residents...

The application (if approved) could allow the Raby Arms public house to serve alcohol in its recently constructed barn, however its claimed several factors could now effect the decision.

4th March 2025

The Raby Arms, located on the Outskirts of Hartlepool

An application set to go before a council licensing committee next week could determine a local pubs future business expansions, as it seeks to diversify what it offers amidst a challenging market.

Councillors for Hartlepool Borough Council will meet next week at the Licensing Sub-Committee on Tuesday, 11th March 2025 to review an application for a new premises licence at The Barn, located at The Raby Arms on Front Street, Hartlepool. The application, submitted by The Raby Arms Hart Limited, seeks approval for the sale of alcohol and hosting live and recorded music from 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM daily, as well as off-site alcohol sales from 9:00 AM.

Concerns Raised by Residents

The application however has reportedly sparked some opposition from nearby local residents, with four formal objections to the plans said to have been submitted in response to the proposals. The objections are said to primarily raise concerns over noise pollution, public nuisance, crime, and anti-social behaviour. One resident is said to have pointed out that "the new structure is closer to private dwellings and is likely to be less insulated against noise," expressing fears that loud music and disturbances will increase. Others have reported past incidents of "drug use in the car park, excessive noise disturbances, and littering."

A key point of contention councillors will be set to mull over, is that according to the reports, The Barn reportedly does not currently have the necessary planning permission or building regulations approval for its proposed use. Something, which according to the council’s licensing policy, applications of such a nature should not be entertained unless the premises already has an appropriate planning consent.

The council’s licensing policy states:

"The licensing authority will not normally entertain an application for a licence unless the applicant can demonstrate that the premises has either an appropriate (in terms of the activity and hours sought) planning consent, or an appropriate certificate of lawful use or development."

Whilst the applicant is said to be 'working with the councils planning and building control departments' to address the issue, it raises questions about whether the application should be entitled to proceed before the regulatory issues are resolved.

Potential Outcomes of the Hearing

Given the objections raised, its claimed Hartlepool Borough Councils Licensing Sub-Committee has several options to consider when reviewing the application. They can either: Approve the application in full, Approve it with conditions to mitigate public concerns or even Reject it entirely, with the council having to balance the economic benefits of a new licensed venue against the concerns of local residents, particularly over concerns relating to noise, crime, and disruption.

Public Interest and the Future of Licensing in Hartlepool

The application will be reviewed at Hartlepool's Civic Centre

This case is also likely to raise broader issues about how Hartlepool Borough Council handles licensing applications for hospitality venues in residential areas, especially as the economic impact of the governments new taxes imposed on the leisure industry are set to bite their hardest in April 2025. Should the businesses be granted the licences on their Barn before they obtain official planning permission? or Should the concerns of a few residents outweigh potential economic growth? These are questions that will likely shape the councils licensing policies going forward.

The outcome of this hearing will likely set a precedent for future licensing applications in Hartlepool, making it a key event for both business owners and residents, with the Licensing Sub-Committee set to meet at 10:00 AM in Committee Room A of the Civic Centre, where a decision on the future expansion plans of the pub could now be in the hands of the local council itself.