Dorset: Rocky's bar condition after licence review

Those living close to Rocky’s Bar in Queen Street, Gillingham, helped by local councillor Belinda Ridout, forced a review of the premises licence.

Much of their complaints were about bad behaviour in the street outside as well as loud music from the premises – although the bar operator argued there was little he could do about people in the street, many of which were passing by on their way home from other places.

The hearing also heard a plea for better policing in the area on Fridays and Saturdays.

During the Dorchester review the bar operator, Mr Scott Rock, offered a reduction in the 24-hour licence along with other steps to help ease problems for those living nearby.

Councillors sitting on the panel have now decided on new conditions based on what was offered and residents asked for.

None of the conditions will come into place until a three week period to allow time for an appeal has passed, or until an appeal is made. Anyone involved in the hearing is entitled to ask for an appeal to Poole Magistrates.

The new conditions of the premises licence include limiting alcohol sales until midnight Sunday to Thursday; until 2am on Friday and Saturdays and until 3am of New Year’s Eve and Carnival Day.

A new condition will not allow entry, or re-entry to the premises after 11pm every day and closing the rear garden at 10pm daily, apart from allowing up to six customer at any one time to smoke, with the garden supervised by a staff member from 10pm until closing.

Conditions have also been imposed by the review panel to ensure adequate door security staff for each event, but at least one at the front door from 10pm until closing on bank holidays, New Year’s and Christmas Eve, Carnival Day and on Fridays and Saturdays between June 1st and September 14th.

The bar has also been told to make contact numbers and an email available to resident to report problems and for the bar to hold at least quarterly meetings with its neighbours.