Kris Gumbrell, CEO of Brewhouse and Kitchen, said the recent review of Chaplins Bar in Boscombe should “give pause to anyone who cares about the future of our local pubs and hospitality businesses”.
During the committee meeting, she told members that she had bought a flat next door to Chaplin’s in 2007 but was unaware that the bar was there when purchasing the property.
She also told the committee that she no longer lived in the flat.
The review was ultimately dismissed due to insufficient evidence, but had it voted in the complainant’s favour, Chaplins could have been forced to stop operating despite being open for the past 26 years.
Kris said: “While the council ultimately found in favour of the premises, the case itself highlights a deeper and more troubling issue within the current licensing framework.
The review process, under the Licensing Act 2003, allows almost any individual to trigger a formal hearing with a relatively low evidential threshold, which Kris said, “in theory, this empowers residents and protects communities”.
However, he said in practice, it can expose businesses to lengthy, costly, and stressful proceedings even where the evidence is “weak, flawed, or ultimately inconclusive”.
Kris has argued licence reviews such as Chaplin these causes pub owner’s undue stress: “I think it’s really unfair what [the owner] went through. It’s absolutely horrible.”
He added: “Pubs and live music venues are an essential part of Bournemouth’s cultural and economic fabric.
“They create jobs, foster community spirit, and contribute to the vibrancy of our town.
“It is vital that they are protected from misuse of regulatory processes that were never intended to place undue burden on responsible operators.”
He has called for reform of reviews, including introducing a more robust evidential threshold and clearer safeguards against “frivolous or vexatious” applications.
“It’s down to our local MPs now to champion this going forward.”