Plans for new basement bar in Portsmouth hotel to be considered amid police concerns

A decision meeting on a new licence for the Keppel’s Head Hotel in The Hard, Portsea, will be held via video call on Friday, July 3 having been postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

As part of the licence hotel managers have asked to open the bar – to be called Nut Bar – and play live music from 11am until 2am every day.

It is planned that Nut Bar will be used as a private function room, for birthday parties and weddings. It will not be open to the public.

However, an objection has been raised by the police following a police test purchase that was carried out in the hotel's existing bar – Nelson's Bar.

A statement from Hampshire Constabulary said: 'The chief officer of police makes representations against the applications for the variation of a premises licence at Nut Bar, The Keppel's Head, The Hard, Portsmouth.

'This follows concerns around the operation of the premises which calls into question the ability of the licence holder to operate the premises in a way which promotes the licensing objectives.

'This stems from a lack of communication around the application and also a juvenile test purchase operation in which the sale of alcohol was made at the premises to a 15-year-old.'

But Tring Lim, one of the hotel's managers, previously said: ‘That happened at a weekend when it was really busy and a member of staff who doesn't usually work on the bars helped out. We put our hands up and admitted mistakes were made.

‘On the most recent test we all passed because we took notice of what happened.’

Three neighbours of the hotel have also objected to the licence over noise and anti-social behaviour concerns.

In a letter of objection Nigel Powell, who lives directly next door, said: 'There are often evenings when there is a lot of noise generated by people who have gone outside to smoke and drink.'

The licensing meeting can be viewed by the public via the council's website.

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