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There is no summary of this meeting yet. One is written once the council publishes the minutes. The agenda and papers are below.
In accordance with the Code of Conduct adopted by the City & County of Swansea, no interests were declared.
The Lead Lawyer referred to the Statutory Licensing Sub Committee Procedure, for information.
The Chair welcomed all attendees to the meeting and the Lead Lawyer referred to the procedure to be adopted by the Sub-Committee when considering the application. The Team Leader, Licensing, referred to a procedural issue. She referred to the unusual location of the proposed premises and suggested that the Sub Committee may benefit from a site visit and further evidence from the Highway Authority and invited Members to consider an adjournment on the grounds of Public Safety. The Applicant stated that he was content to adjourn the meeting. Adjourned at 10:08 Reconvened at 10:17 The Chair stated that the Sub-Committee had resolved to adjourn the meeting until Friday, 4 September, 2026 at 10:00 to allow a site visit and further evidence from the Highway Authority. Adjourned at 10:20 Re-convened at 10:00 on Friday 4 September 2026 The Chair welcomed all attendees to the re-convened meeting. The Licensing Officer reported on the application for a New Premises Licence in respect of Middle of Road Café, 110 Martin Street, Morriston, Swansea, SA6 6BL which had been received on 1 June 2026. The application proposed: Live Music Monday-Saturday 1200-2300 Sunday 1200-2230 Recorded Music Monday-Saturday 1200-2300 Sunday 1200-2230 Performance of Dance Monday-Saturday 1200-2300 Sunday 1200-2230 Late-Night Refreshment Monday-Saturday 2300-0030 Sunday 2300-2330 Supply of Alcohol – on/off sales Monday-Saturday 1200-0000 Sunday 1200-2300 The Licensing Officer referred to the Licensing Objectives, policy considerations, and guidance from the Home Office. Specific reference was made to the application and plan at Appendix A and A1, the location plan at Appendix B, conditions consistent with the operating schedule were set out at Appendix C and representations made by Other Persons were attached at Appendix D and D1. There were no relevant representations from Responsible Authorities. Two representations had been received from Other Persons at Appendix D and D1. The representation related to the following: Prevention of Crime and Disorder Public Safety Prevention of Public Nuisance Protection of Children from Harm An additional Highway and Road Safety Statement was detailed and outlined by Officers. This additional statement had been circulated to Members of the Committee and the Applicant and had been published on the Council’s website prior to the meeting. Furthermore, the Licensing Officer referred to a plan submitted from the Applicant which had been circulated to the Sub-Committee. The Lead Lawyer referred to the non attendance of the Other Persons and confirmed that the representation was included within the agenda papers for Members consideration. Members raised concerns regarding highways and pedestrian safety specifically concerns that customers might sit on or climb over the external walls, potentially entering the carriageway rather than using designated crossing points. The concern followed the Highways report’s view that seating areas adjacent to passing traffic were not supported. In response to specific questions, the Applicant, assisted by the Manager and DPS stated that: • External Seating Risks - there were existing controls in place and liaison would take place with the Highway Authority on pedestrian access and safety matters. • Existing Access Controls - the rear seating was within an enclosed terrace and that the front wall and terrace contained the customer areas. The premises had two entrances: the rear entrance was next to a designated crossing with a dropped pavement, while the front entrance used a ramp directing customers to a tactile-paved area opposite another designated crossing. Staff would discourage climbing walls and manage any unsafe conduct. • Signage And Railings – he was willing to install signage directing customers to the designated entrances and crossings and would consider additional railings if necessary. Due to the premises being listed, structural changes would require the appropriate planning or listed-building approval. • Highways Liaison - he was content to accept a condition requiring liaison with the Highway Authority on highway safety and pedestrian access. There was ongoing discussions with the Strategic Economic Regeneration Manager regarding potentially funding a pedestrian crossing, subject to Council budget availability. • Crossing Locations – the crossings near the bus stop and at the end of Woodfield Street were the busiest routes. Customers approaching from Martin Street generally used designated crossings. • Noise Management and Representations from Other Persons - the premises had hosted live entertainment without complaints and would work with Environmental Health to control amplification if noise problems arose. • Resident Representations - the premises had offered meetings with the two Other Persons and invited the relevant resident to community meetings at the Morriston Hub, but no substantive meeting had taken place. • Prior Entertainment - the premises had hosted live entertainment during the previous 12 months, including brass, bluegrass and ska performances, without receiving complaints. They also noted that the building had historically accommodated choirs, brass bands, rehearsals, and other community activities. • Building Sound Containment - the former church has substantial stone walls approximately three to four feet thick, which would contain much of the sound. He acknowledged that some noise could escape and any resulting issue would be addressed through cooperation with Environmental Health. • Amplification Controls - if Environmental Health determined the sound level was excessive, the business would set amplification at a level agreed with the Department. He stated that this was an ongoing management process rather than something that could be resolved solely through the initial application. In conclusion, the Applicant referred to the premises as a locally reinvested community venue intended to support Morriston’s regeneration through employment, live performances and use of a restored historic building. He stated he had lived and worked in Swansea for many years, employed local people and reinvested income into restoring local buildings. He described the premises as a community-focused business rather than a national-chain venue. The applicant stated that the cafe had already become a recognised community hub and had hosted bands and community activities. It was his intention to continue offering live performances and paying bands to perform at the venue. The Applicant linked the proposed licence to wider regeneration in Morriston, referring to new housing, redevelopment of Danber House and other independent businesses. He reported that a distinctive venue could contribute to renewed activity on Woodfield Street and in the surrounding community. It was Resolved that the press and public be excluded from the hearing in accordance with paragraph 14 of the Licensing Act (Hearings) Regulations 2005, to enable the Sub-Committee to take legal advice. (Closed Session) Members discussed the issues relating to the application. (Open Session) The Lawyer advising the Sub-Committee gave a comprehensive overview of the legal advice tendered. The Chair indicated that the Sub-Committee had considered the application and representation made and the needs and interests of all parties in terms of the Council’s Statements of Licensing Policy, statutory guidance and the requirements of the Licensing Act 2003. The Sub‑Committee Resolved to Grant the application for a new premises licence as modified, subject to: • Conditions consistent with the operating schedule (Appendix C), • Mandatory conditions under the Licensing Act 2003. Live Music Monday-Saturday 1200-2300 Sunday 1200-2230 Recorded Music Monday-Saturday 1200-2300 Sunday 1200-2230 Performance of Dance Monday-Saturday 1200-2300 Sunday 1200-2230 Late-Night Refreshment Monday-Saturday 2300-0030 Sunday 2300-2330 Supply of Alcohol – on/off sales Monday-Saturday 1200-0000 Sunday 1200-2300 1. Premises to keep up to dated risk assessments in relation to operating procedures on site for inspection. 2. A Comprehensive recordable CCTV system will be installed and maintained covering the trade areas whilst encompassing all ingress and egress to the premises. The system will continually record whilst the premises is open for licensable activities and during all times when customers remain at the premises. The system will be capable of providing pictures of evidential quality, in particular facial recognition. All recordings will be stored for a minimum period of 31 days with date and time. Recordings will be made available immediately upon the request of a Police or Authorised Officer. 3. An incident recording book, bound in numerical order, will be maintained at the premises showing details of the date and time of all assaults, injuries, accidents or ejections, as well as details of the members of staff involved, the nature of the incident and the action/outcome. The book will be kept available for inspection by the Police and authorised officers of the Licensing Authority. 4. No rubbish, including bottles, shall be moved, removed or placed In outside areas between 2100 hours and 0800 hours. 5. Notices shall predominantly displayed at all exists requesting patrons to respect the needs of local residents and leave the area quietly. 6. No rubbish, including bottles, shall be moved, removed or placed In outside areas between 2100 hours and 0800 hours. 7. Notices shall be predominantly displayed in all areas used for smoking requesting patrons to respect the needs of the local residents and use the area quietly. 8. All our staff will be trained to enforce age restrictions and monitor children’s safety on the premises. 9. A Challenge 25 proof of age scheme, shall be operated at the premises where the only acceptable forms of identification shall bear their photograph, date of birth and a holographic mark. 10. A log shall be kept detailing all refused sales of alcohol. The log should include the date and time of the refused sale and the name of the member of staff who refused the sale. The log shall be available for inspection at the premises by the police or an authorised officer of the Council at all times whilst the premises are open. 11. The premises to keep up to date records of staff training and refresher training in respect of age-related sales including proxy sales to persons who are drunk and identifying and preventing drug misuse in written or electronic format available for inspection on request by an authorised officer. Capacity limits shall be in place at the premises, capacity limits shall be kept to at all times. Staff training should take place every six months 12. Other than for off sales in sealed containers no drinks are permitted to leave the licensed area as shown on the deposited plans. 13. No rubbish, including bottles, shall be moved, removed or placed in outside areas between 2100 hours and 0800 hours. 14. The Premises Licence Holder shall prepare, maintain and implement a written Pedestrian Management Plan for the premises. The Plan shall be submitted to the Licensing Authority and Local Highway Authority within one month of the grant of the licence. 15. The Plan shall set out the measures to be taken to manage pedestrian movements associated with the premises and to minimise risks to pedestrian safety in the vicinity of the premises. 16. The Plan shall include details of, as appropriate, pedestrian routing, queue management, stewarding, signage, prevention of obstruction of the highway, maintenance of emergency access routes and arrangements for monitoring pedestrian movements. 17. The Premises Licence Holder shall implement the Plan in full whenever the premises is operating for licensable activities. 18. A copy of the current Plan shall be kept at the premises and made available on request to an authorised officer of the Licensing Authority, the Police or the Local Highway Authority. 19. The Plan shall be reviewed annually and following any significant incident affecting pedestrian safety associated with the premises. Reasons for Decision The Sub‑Committee carefully considered the application and operating schedule, the Officer’s report and agenda pack, the written representations from other persons, the oral submissions made on behalf of the applicant, the Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy, and the Statutory Guidance issued under section 182 of the Licensing Act 2003. The Sub‑Committee determined the application on its individual merits with a view to promoting the four licensing objectives. The Sub‑Committee attached significant weight to the fact that no relevant representations were received from any Responsible Authority, including South Wales Police, licensing, Environmental Health and Trading Standards. Members considered this to be a strong indication that the application did not give rise to concerns of a regulatory nature in respect of the licensing objectives. The Sub‑Committee carefully considered the written and oral representation from the Other Persons. The Sub‑Committee recognised these concerns as genuinely held. However, Members noted that certain matters raised were not licensable matters or are beyond the control of the premises licence holder and therefore cannot be determinative of the application. These matters were nevertheless considered insofar as they related to the licensing objectives. The Sub‑Committee therefore resolved to grant the application. Right of Appeal Any party to the decision has the right to appeal to the Magistrates’ Court within 21 days of receipt of the formal decision notice.
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