Agenda item

6.1

The Chief Licensing Officer submitted a report to consider an application, made under Section 17 of the Licensing Act 2003, for the grant of a premises licence in respect of premises at 55 Surrey Street, Sheffield S1 1XX (Ref. No.05/20).

6.2

Present at the meeting were Jonathan Smith (Solicitor for the Applicants), Paul Dykes (Building Manager, Mitchell & Butlers), Sue Walsh (Operations Director, Miller & Carter), Sam Ellis (General Manager, Miller & Carter), Jayne Gough (Licensing Strategy and Policy Officer), Samantha Bond (Legal Adviser to the Sub-Committee) and Jennie Skiba (Democratic Services).

6.3

Samantha Bond outlined the procedure which would be followed during the hearing.

6.4

Jayne Gough presented the report to the Sub-Committee, and it was reported that representations had been received from one member of the public, and were attached at Appendix “B” to the report.  Ms. Gough said that the objector had been invited to attend the hearing but was not in attendance.

6.5

Jonathan Smith stated that the application was for the premises to be a premium steakhouse restaurant and bar which would be open seven days a week to serve hot food and drinks with recorded background music.  He said that Mitchell & Butler held approximately 1,800 licences throughout the country, with 115 to 118 of those licences being held under the Miller & Carter brand which offered premium food to the upmarket sector.  Mr. Smith said that work on the premises would commence in May, 2020, with an anticipated opening date of August, 2020.  He said that although the building was in a conservation area, it was not a listed building and he produced and described to Members the proposed outline plan.  The premises are to consist of a restaurant and bar on the ground floor and restaurant and toilet facilities to the basement floor.  The first and second floors of the building are to be converted to provide hotel bedrooms, with 10 rooms on each floor.  Access to the hotel could be via the bar area on the ground floor as well as a separate on street entrance to the left of the premises. 

6.6

Sue Walsh stated that it had taken four years for the Company to obtain the freehold of the property.  She said she had met with officers of the City Council and had consulted with the Police prior to the application being made and had outlined the Company’s commitment to Sheffield.  As regards the objections which had been received, she stated that the proposed opening hours would be similar to the Mercure Hotel and the Head of Steam public house, both located close by.  She referred to the fact that no objections had been received from the caretaker to the adjoining property nor any of the licensed premises in the area.  She said that a member of management would act as a doorperson after 11.00 p.m. each night to ensure that people left the premises quietly.  As the premises were to be a hotel as well as a restaurant/bar, it would not be in the best interests of the Company for their guests to be disturbed late at night.

6.7

In response to questions from Members of, and the Solicitor to, the Sub-Committee, the applicants said that the Company might apply for a roped-off outside area for al fresco dining along Surrey Street/Norfolk Street but they were still working on this as a possibility.  Also, those who wished to smoke would be encouraged to go around the side of the premises, and members of the management team would check at frequent intervals to ensure that the area was kept clean with the necessary receptacles being provided for this use.

6.8

Jonathan Smith summarised the case on behalf of the applicants.

6.9

Jayne Gough presented the options available to the Sub-Committee.

6.10

RESOLVED: That the public and press and attendees involved in the application be excluded from the meeting before further discussion takes place on the grounds that, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted, if those persons were present, there would be a disclosure to them of exempt information as described in paragraph 5 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, as amended.

6.11

Samantha Bond reported orally, giving legal advice on various aspects of the application.

6.12

At this stage in the proceedings, the meeting was re-opened to the public and press and attendees.

6.13

RESOLVED: That, in the light of the information contained in the report now submitted, the representations now made and responses to the questions raised, the Sub-Committee agrees to grant a premises licence in respect of the premises at 55 Surrey Street, Sheffield S1 1XX (Ref No.05/20), in the terms requested.

(The full reasons for the Sub-Committee’s decision will be included in the written Notice of Determination.)