PLANS to reschedule a postponed food and music festival received a boost when organisers were granted a second premises licence.

The three-day Pub in the Park event with renowned Sussex chef Tom Kerridge had been planned for Oaklands Park in Chichester in May but was called off because of the coronavirus lockdown. The festival was rescheduled for August.

Organisers Brand Events had been granted a licence to sell alcohol and play live or recorded music in the park.

Not wanting to risk a clash with any future opening of Chichester Festival Theatre, which is based there, they decided on a second option – Westgate Fields, in front of Chichester College.

The company applied to the district council for a permanent licence, which would allow other three-day events to be held at the site once a year.

A report to a meeting of the alcohol and entertainment licensing sub-committee said ten people had objected to the application.

One said: “I am of the opinion that such an event will seriously interfere with our right to a peaceful life. Not to mention the likely damage and possible interference with property.”

Neil Levene, of Brand Events, told the meeting that, in normal circumstances, he would expect between 3,000 and 3,500 people to attend each session.

Under social distancing rules, plan B was for 1,500 people, with fewer attractions and a lower ticket price. Mr Levene said the priority was to “protect and respect” the venue.

He added: “If an event is popular – which we hope it will be – we obviously want to be able to come back.”

Brand Events has been running Pub in the Park for four years and Chichester would be the firm’s 14th such event.