Outside drinks ban at well-known Highland pub leaves host baffled
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A CITY publican says he has been left baffled after Highland Council rejected a bid for four tables on the pavement outside his premises.
George MacLean, of the Phoenix Ale House in Academy Street, says that, in the wake of the coronavirus crisis, he needs the extra space to make all-day trading viable.
Like other pubs and restaurants social distancing requirements mean he is unable to welcome as many customers at one time as he did before the pandemic.
Under delegated powers the council’s licensing committee said the outside seating could not be allowed because it would cause too much congestion.
Mr MacLean, however, says the pavement outside his pub is at least as wide as that at many other city centre premises that have been allowed outside tables.
He gave Café 1 and the Castle Restaurant in Castle Street as examples, along with Gunsmiths in Union Street, all of which he said were also in areas far busier with pedestrians.
“I cannot understand the refusal,” he said. “It doesn’t make much sense to me given the width of the pavement at my doorstep. I didn’t think my application was far off the mark, and even made a prototype table to indicate the space being taken up.
“I actually can offer more in terms of space.”
He says the refusal means it will not be financially viable for him to open before 4pm each day.
“Had I been given the 16 seats outdoors, it would have allowed us to open longer, and try and restore the trade lost because of the pandemic,” he said. “The licensing board should remember we have lost four months trade and are trying to bounce back, encouraged by the government.”
Ian Cox, licensing standards officer, said in a report the premises were well run, but as community services had identified safety issues for pedestrians he could not support Mr MacLean’s application.
Related: Ross-shire publicans welcome customers back and urge them to abide by Covid-19 restrictions
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Is your Ross-shire business bouncing back? Get in touch by emailing newsdesk@hnmedia.co.uk
