Whitley Bay Big Local, a community centre on Whitley Road, has been granted an alcohol licence by North Tyneside Council’s licensing committee.
Licence approved for private hire events
Councillors met at the local authority’s Cobalt HQ to decide on the application, which would allow the venue to host private hire events. The committee heard that, while the licence would run from 9am to 11pm every day, the venue would not serve alcohol at all times.
The centre’s garden would also be closed off during events, given its proximity to neighbours.
Centre reassures over serving hours
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, largely because the site would be used as a daily drinking establishment. Before the meeting, councillors were told that one objection had been withdrawn.
Support and background
Whitley Bay North councillor John O’Shea logged one representation of support. It was also noted that the police had no objection to the proposals.
Following deliberation, the committee reconvened and awarded the licence to the Whitley Bay Big Local premises.
North Tyneside Big Local purchased its Whitley Bay hub 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.
