On October 31st, the Council Licensing Panel will be dealing with an application to extend the Theatre Royal drinks licence out into the street.

Currently, the Theatre-goers can get drinks from various bars inside the venue, but not in a bar that fronts New Road nor take them outside. The application is to create a new bar with an outside eating and drinking area. There have been strong objections from the Police, local businesses and residents.

The Police object because it breaches the Cumulative Impact Zone and that the applicant has made no reference to the CIZ whatsoever or even considered any measures to reduce the possibility of public nuisance. The Police state that a specific cordoned area for theatre goers only might be acceptable.

The local community association make the same objection, saying: “New Road is awash with drinkers” already and another one will just add the problems in this area.

The Managing Director (Dave Day) of the Golden Lion Group that owns the Colonnade Bar right next door has objected in the same vein, albeit somewhat floridly. He says that the opening by the Theatre Royal of the new café “The Parlour” is a “prostitution of their current licence.”

The application is being considered on Monday October 31st at 10 am on Brighton Town Hall.