Christchurch pleasure boat granted permission to serve alcohol

The premises licence application for the MV Margarita to supply alcohol daily between 10am and 11pm to supplement chartered events has been approved by BCP Council following a licensing sub-committee meeting on November 24.

Applicant Lewis Malone said the supply of alcohol would be ancillary to the main use as a pleasure boat for fishing trips, private charters and charity events.

Members heard how there had at one time been 22 objections to the proposal, while 100 submissions were recorded in support of the plans.

Primary objections lobbied at Mr Malone and his legal representative Philip Day centred on fears the sale of alcohol on the vessel would create public nuisance in the form of noise and antisocial behaviour. Perceived vagueness about where the vessel would be moored was also a topic of discussion.

Aerial image of Christchurch, with Elkin’s Boatyard pictured in the foreground. (Image: Stephen Bath)

MV Margarita is primarily moored at Elkin’s Boatyard.

In his representations on behalf of the applicant, Mr Day of Lacey’s Solicitors said: “There appears to have been something of a misunderstanding about the exact intention here. Some people have described it as a party boat or a floating off-licence, that is not the case.”

Mr Day said the vessel could take a maximum of 12 passengers with two crew members who would regulate and control and sale of alcohol and subsequent consumption, minimising risk of unruliness and disorder.

“It’s not going to be a party boat, it’s simply not going to happen,” he added.

The MV Margarita has recently been refurbished and now houses cooking facilities. Mr Day stated how on chartered fishing trips, customers could cook the fish they had caught – with alcohol merely an ancillary option.

Cooking facilities on board the MV Margarita (Image: Lacey’s Solicitors)

Acting on behalf of objecting residents was Christchurch mayor Cllr Avril Coulton, who feared the granting of a licence could encourage further drinking in local rivers and for other vessels to follow suit.

“It’s manic, this summer was so busy [with] paddleboarders all over the place. It concerns me, are we thinking about the safety of other boat users?” she asked.

Mr Day responded that the vessel would have to comply with harbour regulations which apply regardless of whether an alcohol licence was granted. He added: “I do struggle with the idea of the boat being in the middle of the river, and somebody on a paddle board coming up and saying ‘can I have a pint of your best bitter?’ With the greatest respect, that is a little farfetched.

“This is very much intended to support local events and in particular local charities such as the RNLI.”

Following deliberation, the committee granted the application.