Bournemouth hotel wins battle against residents' anger

Bosses at the Trouville Hotel in Priory Road, Bournemouth, are now allowed to sell alcohol to non-residents until 1am and 24/7 for residents and “bona fide guests”. 

Residents in the West Coast apartment black opposite were concerned about excessive noise from drinkers outside and raised previous concern about ‘management not listening to complaints’. 

However, the hotel's boss Muhammad Malik​​​​ said the objectors "did not have a shred of evidence" around their concerns.

BCP Council’s licensing sub-committee has now decided the licence is allowed on the condition that all non-fixed tables and chairs in the outside areas at the front of the hotel be removed by 11pm each day. 

Philip Day of Laceys Solicitors next to Mohammed Malik of ABQ Leisure, the hotel's owner (Image: BCP Council)

Additionally, the contact details for the hotel’s management must be on display in the reception area and made available to residents of Coast Development if requested. 

Twenty-seven written letters of concern were sent to the initial application, something the sub-committee noted, according to the council. 

“However, in determining this application, the sub-committee is only able to consider the licensing objectives and whether the proposed premises licence would undermine those licensing objectives,” BCP Council said. 

“No relevant substantial evidence had been provided that the premises, if licensed would lead to increased crime and disorder or public nuisance in the local area that could be considered when determining the application. 

"The sub-committee noted that the licensing officer had advised that no complaints had been made to the licensing team when the Trouville Hotel was previously operational under the lapsed licence and no complaints had been received regarding the recent operation under the temporary event notices.”  

Explaining the conditions, BCP Council said: “Residents were concerned that table and chairs being outside the premises overnight could attract late night drinkers and the sub-committee did agree that such furniture could encourage those walking from the town centre to sit and cause a noise nuisance. 

“[Philip Day, representing the hotel] offered a condition that the non-fixed tables and chairs would be removed and stored away by 11pm each evening to mitigate this concern and the sub-committee agreed that this condition should be added to the licence.” 

Mr Malik, Oceana's Bournemouth-based group director for finance and business support, said: "Ahead of the meeting, we offered to the council to remove all outdoor seating.

"We are now utilising the licence and I don't foresee any problems. Thank you to the council who has looked into this pragmatically."