Plans approved that will create a 'mini Wetherspoons' style bar on pub site

Council chiefs have partly agreed a raft of changes at a bar to create a “mini-Wetherspoons”.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Bosses at The Victory, in School Street, Easington Colliery, had sought permission for alterations which would have increased the time customers had to be served, but would also have seen it shut earlier.

Officers from Durham Constabulary had given their blessing to the proposals after securing agreement with managers over use of CCTV footage and reassurance children under 14 would not be allowed on site after 8pm, except in special circumstances.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

But concerns were also raised by Easington Parish Council and other over the potential impact of the revised licence.

The Victory in Easington Colliery.The Victory in Easington Colliery.
The Victory in Easington Colliery.

County councillor David Boyes, who represents the county council’s Easington division, specifically objected to the earlier opening hours proposed.

In a letter the licensing bosses, he said: “The principal reason [for objecting] is the public disorder and anti social behaviour that I believe would occur if the [changes were] allowed to happen.”

However, in his owner letter to Durham County Council’s (DCC) licensing department, Mike Roseberry, who submitted the licence application claimed this would not be the case.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He said: “The application is simply to sell alcohol, tea [and] coffee with breakfast providing the community with a mini Wetherspoons instead of travelling out of the area.”

Following the meeting on Tuesday, November 19 of DCC’s Statutory Licensing Sub-Committee, councillors agreed to changes which will mean the club now closes at midnight instead of 1pm, as previously, but rejected proposals for it to open and start serving alcohol from 8am, which was instead amended to 9am.

Related topics: