Latest news with #EastLothianLicensingBoard
Scotsman
22-05-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
New owner of only shop in East Lothian village bids to have alcohol licence reinstated
A village shop which was barred from selling alcohol just before Christmas two years ago is bidding to have its licence reinstated. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The Premier store, in Gifford, was ordered to stop selling booze by East Lothian Licensing Board in December 2023 after it was claimed the premises manager was not a 'fit person' to operate it'. At the time the board's licensing standards officer raised concern about staff at the store, training and a lack of management oversight. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Next week the board will hear an application from a new premises manager Prasanth Baskaran to take over the shop and introduce alcohol sales again. Gifford village shop was previously known as Nisa but is now Premier, according to the licence application | Google Maps No objections have been lodged by Police Scotland however the licensing standards officer's report raised continued concern about the operations at the store. In it she says the former manager remains landlord of the shop and during a visit to it last month staff appeared not to know who their new boss was. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad She adds: 'I asked the staff member if Mr Baskaran worked at the shop and was told no. He said he was one of three staff members who lived together at the rented property Gifford (at the address of applicant given). 'Currently I'm concerned about the applicant's apparent lack of involvement in the premises.' Despite concerns the officer adds the shop is the only convenience store in the village and the application is compliant with the Licensing Act.
Edinburgh Reporter
16-05-2025
- Business
- Edinburgh Reporter
Village shop bids to have alcohol licence renewed
A village shop which was barred from selling alcohol just before Christmas two years ago is bidding to have its licence reinstated. The Premier store, in Gifford, was ordered to stop selling booze by East Lothian Licensing Board in December 2023 after it was claimed the premises manager was not a 'fit person' to operate it. At the time the board's licensing standards officer raised concern about staff at the store, training and a lack of management oversight. Next week the board will hear an application from a new premises manager Prasanth Baskaran to take over the shop and introduce alcohol sales again. No objections have been lodged by Police Scotland however the licensing standards officer's report raised continued concern about the operations at the store. In it she says the former manager remains landlord of the shop and during a visit to it last month staff appeared not to know who their new boss was. She adds: 'I asked the staff member if Mr Baskaran worked at the shop and was told no. He said he was one of three staff members who lived together at the rented property Gifford (at the address of applicant given). 'Currently I'm concerned about the applicant's apparent lack of involvement in the premises.' Despite concerns the officer adds the shop is the only convenience store in the village and the application is compliant with the Licensing Act. By Marie Sharp Local Democracy Reporter Like this: Like Related
Edinburgh Live
16-05-2025
- Business
- Edinburgh Live
Only shop in East Lothian village bids to have alcohol licence reinstated
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info A village shop which was barred from selling alcohol just before Christmas two years ago is bidding to have its licence reinstated. The Premier store, in Gifford, was ordered to stop selling booze by East Lothian Licensing Board in December 2023 after it was claimed the premises manager was not a 'fit person' to operate it. At the time the board's licensing standards officer raised concern about staff at the store, training and a lack of management oversight. Next week the board will hear an application from a new premises manager Prasanth Baskaran to take over the shop and introduce alcohol sales again. No objections have been lodged by Police Scotland however the licensing standards officer's report raised continued concern about the operations at the store. In it she says the former manager remains landlord of the shop and during a visit to it last month staff appeared not to know who their new boss was. She adds: "I asked the staff member if Mr Baskaran worked at the shop and was told no. He said he was one of three staff members who lived together at the rented property Gifford (at the address of applicant given). "Currently I'm concerned about the applicant's apparent lack of involvement in the premises." Despite concerns the officer adds the shop is the only convenience store in the village and the application is compliant with the Licensing Act.
Edinburgh Reporter
24-04-2025
- Edinburgh Reporter
East Linton gala gets licence for drinks tent
Police have called for a fence to be erected so children cannot see adults drinking alcohol at a village gala after it was given the go ahead to sell booze. East Linton gala, in East Lothian, applied for a licence for a drinks tent at this summer's event which will be based at the finishing line of an annual over-18s hill race which is linked to the traditional family day. However Police Scotland asked for screening to be put in place to ensure children at the gala could not see the grown-ups drinking in an outside area on the day. East Lothian Licensing Board instructed its Licensing Standards Officer to work with the gala organisers and police to come up with a screening solution for the event in June as it approved a licence to sell alcohol at the event. Last year East Linton Gala was refused permission to serve alcohol after the board ruled it was a 'predominantly children's event' and should not be licensed. However organisers, who had argued the event was for all ages, said the ban led to fewer adults attending and those who did bringing their own alcohol. The village green, where the gala is held, is exempt from local bylaws barring drinking alcohol in public on gala day meaning people were able to drink without any designated area provided. At a meeting of the board members heard from the Licensing Standards Officer that after the licence was refused there was some promotion of a Bring Your Own Bottle approach to the event locally with claims there would be a 'Pimp your Prosecco' tent on the day. Haydn Thomas, from the gala association, told the board no such tent had been at the gala on the day and that the decision by some attendees to bring their own alcohol had caused issues for organisers who were faced with a lack of control over where people drank and litter problems. He said following last year's event, the association had looked at how to ensure the drinks tent could operate alongside the children's events with serving times restricted to after the main parade and linked to the annual hill race which was for over-18s. The gala, which is in June is attended by around 400 local residents and described by organisers as the county's 'smallest' one held in the village's War Memorial Park. The licence was granted with the decision over screening delegated to the board clerk to oversee. By Marie Sharp Local Democracy Reporter Like this: Like Related
Edinburgh Live
24-04-2025
- Edinburgh Live
Call for East Lothian village gala drinks tent to be fenced off to protect children
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Police have called for a fence to be erected so children cannot see adults drinking alcohol at a village gala after it was given the go ahead to sell booze. East Linton gala, in East Lothian, applied for a licence for a drinks tent at this summer's event which will be based at the finishing line of an annual over-18s hill race which is linked to the traditional family day. However Police Scotland asked for screening to be put in place to ensure children at the gala could not see the grown-ups drinking in an outside area on the day. East Lothian Licensing Board instructed its Licensing Standards Officer to work with the gala organisers and police to come up with a screening solution for the event in June as it approved a licence to sell alcohol at the event. Last year East Linton Gala was refused permission to serve alcohol after the board ruled it was a 'predominantly children's event' and should not be licensed. However organisers, who had argued the event was for all ages, said the ban led to fewer adults attending and those who did bringing their own alcohol. The village green, where the gala is held, is exempt from local bylaws barring drinking alcohol in public on gala day meaning people were able to drink without any designated area provided. At a meeting of the board members heard from the Licensing Standards Officer that after the licence was refused there was some promotion of a Bring Your Own Bottle approach to the event locally with claims there would be a 'Pimp your Prosecco' tent on the day. Haydn Thomas, from the gala association, told the board no such tent had been at the gala on the day and that the decision by some attendees to bring their own alcohol had caused issues for organisers who were faced with a lack of control over where people drank and litter problems. He said following last year's event, the association had looked at how to ensure the drinks tent could operate alongside the children's events with serving times restricted to after the main parade and linked to the annual hill race which was for over-18s. The gala, which is in June is attended by around 400 local residents and described by organisers as the county's 'smallest' one held in the village's War Memorial Park. The licence was granted with the decision over screening delegated to the board clerk to oversee.
