Golfers lead the way
Scott and Patricia McMillan toast the club's open licence
HADDINGTON Golf Club has teed off as the first sports club in East Lothian to change its status to an open licence.
It follows in the wake of British Legion clubs in the county and will now be able to welcome customers who are non-members in a bid to boost income.
The club in Whittingehame Drive also got the go-ahead from East Lothian Licensing Board last week to vary its on sale hours to 10am instead of 11am, Monday to Saturday, and its seasonal hours between 10.30am and 5pm to the new time of 10am to 5pm, October to April.
The police requested a condition that children up to the age of 15 should vacate the premises by 10pm unless they are attending a private function with suitable adults. Those aged 16 and 17 should be accompanied by a parent or guardian after 10pm.
Rudi Fruzynski, Licensing Standards Officer, said: “The hours are outwith the board’s policy. This club, however, has never come to us with any problems. There are very few licensed premises which have been granted earlier hours than 11am but it’s mainly been in relation to clubs which are out of the way and cause no problems. In this instance I have no objection.”
Councillor Stuart Currie declared an interest as a club member and said the premises were “off the beaten track” with the nearest residential properties about three quarters of a mile away.
Councillor Willie Innes said applications had to be treated on their merits and other golf clubs have been granted changes to their opening hours, so Haddington should not be treated any differently.
A spokeswoman for East Lothian Council later said: “Under the licensing regime, clubs pay a lower fee for their alcohol licence but they are subject to more restrictions. The main restriction is that only members or guests signed-in by a member can drink within the club’s premises. One member can only sign-in six guests at a time.”
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She explained that Haddington Golf Club chose to go for an open licence to remove this restriction, adding: “It means they could hold an evening event or open up at lunch time and customers could come along without needing to be signed-in by a member. This removes the need to apply for occasional licences for private functions and also means the club needs to pay the more expensive licensing fee.
“The golf club is still a club with members and a constitution, and it will be up to them to decide their access policy. The licence only applies to the alcohol not the running of the club.”
The spokeswoman said licensing fees were based on the rateable value of premises but club status would usually pay in the lowest band, say £100, but an open licence could range from £300 to £500.
Club stewards Scott McMillan and his wife Patricia wanted to bolster the club’s income and hope the change in status will benefit the town. They will be advertising for private functions such as weddings and funerals as the upstairs private dining area, which can seat 100 people, was not being used to its full potential.
Mr McMillan said that while the club was doing well with a rising membership this year, the number of golfers in visiting parties has dropped from around 30 or 40 to a dozen. That amounted to 60 per cent in bar revenue which had decreased to around 30 per cent.
Mr McMillan said that to open up to non members would help the club cover costs and alleviate pressure on members’ fees.
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Thursday 17 May 2012
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