The Boathouse bar and restaurant in Christchurch wins takeaway alcohol licence bid despite objections

THE Boathouse bar and restaurant in Christchurch has won its bid to continue selling takeaway alcohol after denying it had anything to do with anti-social behaviour in the area.

A new licence has been granted by BCP Council's licensing sub-committee to continue off-sales up until 10pm seven days a week, writes Trevor Bevins of the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The decision came after a meeting which heard a range of complaints about noise and disturbance, including one objection from Christchurch Town Council.

But Boathouse staff said any anti-social behaviour around the quay and the Quomps was nothing to do with the business, whose staff carried out regular litter-picks and called the police if problems arose there.

Around 20 residents had objected to the Boathouse keeping a temporary off-sale licence granted on a temporary basis during the pandemic. Many claimed that allowing trade from an Airstream caravan brought onto the site will only add to litter and disturbances

However, Boathouse solicitor Sandra Graham said that was unfair as the popular eatery caters mainly for families and more mature customers.

There were other takeaway outlets in the area, she said, and nothing to stop people bringing drinks to the public open space from elsewhere.

Mrs Graham told the sub-committee that the long-established business had not met with any statutory objectors when it applied for a permanent licence and local police believed having the business in the area was a deterrent to trouble.

She said the Boathouse was at the higher end of the market, with £6 pints likely to put off troublemakers and only about 20% of off-sales was alcohol.

However, one resident's objection letter claimed that during the pandemic anti-social behaviour around Quomps has increased, often fuelled by alcohol.

“It is usually a relatively quiet, peaceful and safe place to be and enjoy and promotes its Green Flag status. However, our experience of the off-premises alcohol sales has made the Quomps a worrying, frightening and anxious place to live.

"We believe alcohol is the catalyst for the vast majority of the unacceptable occurrences and strongly object to the above licence variation being extended.”

One of the conditions of the new licence is that the Boathouse will provide a telephone number for residents to report any noise nuisance coming from the premises.