Council grants alcohol licence to Whitley Bay Big Local
A Whitley Bay community centre has been granted an alcohol licence by North Tyneside Council’s licensing committee.
The committee heard the application would allow the Whitley Bay Big Local, on Whitley Road, to host private hire events.
While the application calls for a licence from 9am to 11pm every day, councillors were reassured that the venue would not serve alcohol at all times. The centre’s garden would also be closed off, given its proximity to neighbours.
Gemima Taylor, the centre’s hub co-ordinator, said: “We would not be serving alcohol throughout the day, during cafe times, just for events. We are pretty selective with our bookings, and we already have security measures in place.”
The application had generated three objections. Before the meeting, councillors were told that one objection had been withdrawn.
Whitley Bay North councillor John O’Shea also logged one representation of support.
It was also noted that the police had no objection to the proposals.
North Tyneside Big Local purchased its Whitley Bay hub back in 2021. It had previously operated as a Jobcentre until 2017.
It reopened in 2023 following a £400,000 makeover funded by the Department for Levelling Up, the North of Tyne Combined Authority, the Co-op Foundation, and the Enterprise Development Fund, among other backers.