Councillors will decide whether Brighton College can extend its existing drinks licence after neighbours objected to an application by the school.
Brighton and Hove City Council received ten objections and a petition with 227 signatures after the school applied to extend its alcohol licence to two arts buildings at its Eastern Road site.
The decision is due to be made by the council's licensing panel made up of three councillors at an online hearing on Wednesday (September 10).
Brighton College currently has a licence to sell alcohol from 11am to 1am daily and for the performance of live music and the playing of recorded music until 1am.
The licence extension would allow for alcohol sales during the same hours in the new Richard Cairns Building, which includes a theatre, and the Sarah Abraham Recital Hall.
Brighton College said in its application: “Both spaces intend to host dance, drama and live music events.
“For most events there will be a performance of recorded music and sale of alcohol prior to the start of the event and in the interval.
“There will be no alcohol sales after the events with an event cut-off time of 11pm.
“Both buildings are contained within the school grounds and events will take place indoors.
“There are no new licensable activities proposed other than adding these two buildings to an existing licence.”
The anonymous objectors, whose details were redacted by the council, raised concerns about noise, commercialisation and increased congestion.
Two objectors sent letters with identical points, saying: “The college conservation area is residential in nature. This application could lead to significant noise pollution.
“Even ‘background’ music can carry in quiet residential areas, especially during evenings or weekends, potentially disturbing nearby residents’ peace and quiet.
“More importantly, at the end of events, customers and performers will need to depart the site with all the attendant noise and commotion.
“The area around the Quad is known for amplifying noise. There have already been numerous complaints during this year’s summer school activities.”
Seven of the anonymous objectors raised concerns about alcohol sales at a boarding school.
The seven letters had identical bullet points
- Greater chance of under-age access or accidental consumption
- Normalising alcohol use in an educational setting
- Reduced clarity between school-related and commercial activity
Kemp Town resident Sarah Dawson started a petition on Change.org titled 'Stop Brighton College selling alcohol and further disrupting our community'.
Read more
Mrs Dawson said: “The petition, with 227 signatures from local residents, demonstrates substantial community opposition.
“The widespread concern is not limited to a few individuals. It reflects a shared neighbourhood expectation for a balanced licensing approach that safeguards residential amenity and public order.”
She urged the council to refuse the variation on the grounds of public nuisance, public safety and cumulative impact.
Draft conditions agreed with Sussex Police would allow only Brighton College to conduct licensable activities at its site.
All events, including those by outside users, would have to be run by the Brighton College performing arts team and a security team with senior oversight.
The licensing panel is due to meet at 10am on Wednesday. The meeting is scheduled to be webcast.
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