Whitehouse Farm Centre granted alcohol licence for Christmas events

Whitehouse Farm Centre has been granted a licence to serve alcohol from 10am to 5pm every day, along with a recorded music licence for the same hours.

However, one of the site’s owners explained to councillors that this does not mean the site will consistently serve alcohol.

Heather Hogarty told Northumberland County Council’s licensing committee that the permit would allow her to offer a limited range of alcohol during Christmas and at pre-booked ticketed events, such as afternoon teas.

Previously, the farm centre had used one-off licences to cater for the site for larger-scale Christmas events.

The application had generated four objections citing concerns over noise, public nuisance and crime and disorder.

The committee ultimately found “no substantive evidence” to suggest that granting the application would pose a detriment to the area.

Speaking to the committee, Ms Hogarty said: “I would like to say we are a family-run business; we have been operating in the way that we do since 1997, so coming up in May that means we’ve been operating for 30 years.

“We are a well-run establishment; I am very proud of what we do. There is no way we would risk sabotaging the reputation we have got.”

Ms Hogarty reassured councillors that the music associated with the application would be at a low background level to avoid causing a disturbance.

It was also explained that the alcohol offered would include mulled wine, Bailey’s hot chocolate and similar beverages during the Christmas season.

Prosecco would also be offered following private, pre-booked events such as afternoon alpaca walking or lamb feeding.