Hartlepool's Staincliffe Hotel in Seaton Carew bids for permanent licence after one-year trial

Hartlepool Borough Council Licensing Sub-Committee last June granted a 12-month premises licence to The Staincliffe Hotel in Seaton Carew, following talks between hotel bosses and objectors, including the fire service and police.

An application has now been submitted from Ms Amanda Jane Fletcher to make the licence permanent.

In 2019 a new licence was required for the hotel because previous licence holder Paul Montgomery became bankrupt in August 2018, with legislation stating a licence then lapses if it is not transferred within 28 days.

Initially residents and authorities raised concerns over the new licence but it was agreed they would be dropped if the premises licence was granted on a 12-month basis initially, with the hotel then having to apply for a permanent licence.

The permanent premises licence application states the hotel can open to the public from 11am until 11.30pm during the week and until midnight Friday to Sunday

It also gives the hotel permission to show any boxing or wrestling entertainment between noon and 11pm.

Additionally they can have live music at any time between 11am and 11pm, extending to 11.30pm on Friday and Saturday, and play recorded music between 11am until 11pm on weekdays and until midnight on weekends.

The licensing application would also give the hotel permission to supply alcohol until 11pm on weekdays and 11.30pm Friday to Sunday, and serve food until 10pm.

The application states the hotel will ‘strongly protect’ all four licensing objectives, including preventing crime and disorder, public nuisance, protecting children from harm and ensuring public safety.

Previous concerns raised last year included potential antisocial behaviour and public nuisance worries and claims a fire prohibition notice was not being met, which hotel operators said would be addressed.

Speaking at the licensing sub-committee meeting last year, Graeme Cook, barrister on behalf of Ms Fletcher, said the 12 month licence would allow her ‘to be able to show to everybody she means to do well in business and provide a good trade for Seaton Carew and the area.’

Speaking after the meeting in 2019, Coun Dave Hunter, chair of the sub-committee meeting, said it was up to those running the hotel to meet all the requirements over the next 12 months.

At the time, he said: “The new licence is limited to 12 months and therefore the onus is very much on the operators of the Staincliffe Hotel to ensure an application to make the licence permanent in 12 months time will not be opposed by anyone.”

The application is to be considered by the council licensing team in the near future.

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