Number of beds, planned entertainment and alcohol hours included in application for Grand Hotel in Hartlepool

The former Best Western hotel, in Victoria Road, closed in 2020 with all staff made redundant after its then owner Shepherd Cox Hotels (Hartlepool) went into administration.

It was then confirmed last year the hotel had been sold to Otway Capital Limited in March for £95,727.27 excluding VAT.

Earlier this month it was revealed Otway Hotels Ltd had applied to Hartlepool Borough Council for a new premises licence for the Grand Hotel in Swainson Street.

That application is now able to view on the local authority’s website, which provides more details on the future plans for the site.

It states the venue will be operated as a “51 bed hotel with function rooms and restaurant” while examples of entertainment events to be provided at the site include “cabaret, comedy shows and quiz nights”.

The hotel is seeking permission to sell alcohol to the public from 10am until 2am, and 24 hours a day to hotel residents and “bonafide guests only”.

The application would also give permission to serve late night refreshment, such as hot food, from 11pm until 1.30am each day, and host live and recorded music, exhibit films and dance performances between 10am and 2am.

Documents state they want the premises licence to start from September 2, 2023.

A statement submitted by Otway Hotels Ltd outlines how numerous steps will be taken to ensure the venue complies with licensing objectives.

This will include operating a challenge 25 policy, having trained door supervisors, a service refusal log, thorough CCTV coverage and notices requesting customers respect the needs of local residents.