3 minute read
Damien Curran owns The Sipster, a wine and spirits merchant, bar and wine tasting room in Whiteabbey. The establishment is known for its innovative concepts and interesting blend between traditional pub and sophisticated chic aesthetics and atmosphere.
Damien decided he wanted to add to his customers’ experience by introducing a new outdoor seating area. To do so, he needed to apply for a new licence, surrendering the existing licence for the premises as part of the application. This is necessary when a licensed venue alters their premises.
Damien contacted Colin Mitchell and Katie Campbell, specialist licensing solicitors at McCartan Turkington Breen.
We consulted with Damien, his architect and Counsel to ensure the licensing plans and applications were appropriate and proceeded to make an application for a provisional grant in accordance with the necessary statutory provisions.
We brought the application for a provisional licence to gain the Court’s approval of the proposed plans for the outdoor area. This was granted and construction took over a year to complete. This took substantial investment from Damien. True to form, he wanted to ensure the new outdoor space reflected the standards that customers had come to associate with The Sipster brand.
Once construction concluded, we applied to the Court for the provisional grant to be made final. The Courts accepted this and the licence was granted.
The Sipster outdoor area was well received by regulars and new clientele alike and proved to be a worthwhile investment. If you would like to learn more about the venue and its unique offering, visit The Sipster.
If you own or operate a licensed premises anywhere in the Northern Ireland and require support with any type of licence, we can advise. Visit Licensing Solicitors to learn more or contact us for a free initial consultation with a licensing expert.
