Colchester Molly O'Reilly's Fun Pub alcohol licence rejected

Live Tour Promotions had applied to Colchester Council for an alcohol licence which would allow them to run a Molly O’Reilly’s Fun Pub on nine separate dates next month, including New Year’s Eve.

A spokesman previously said they were “extremely confident” that plans for the pop-up pub would be approved, and tickets have been on sale as far back as May.

Preparations – HGVs were on site ready to begin setting up the Fun Pub marquee even before the licencing application was considered (Image: Daniel Rees, Newsquest) Letters were also sent out to nearby residents last week offering them complimentary tickets, with the opening line reading, “We are delighted to be coming to Colchester next month” despite the fact Colchester Council’s sub-committee was yet to consider the application.

And on Monday, heavy goods vehicles were seen laying grass mats next to Leisure World’s disused astroturf in preparation for what would have been the opening day of the pop-up pub on Friday, December 6.

Hours later, that licence was rejected by the council’s licencing sub-committee after more than 100 objections were sent in by residents who said the pub would cause antisocial behaviour and noise pollution.

Simon Lane, 57, told the licencing committee “it would be some kind of torture” if the event went ahead because of the volume of music and singing that would come from the site.

Andy Grimsey, a legal representative for Live Tour Promotions said there had been “no objections from the responsible authorities”.

At the end of the four-and-a-half hour meeting, chair of the licencing committee David Harris announced the application had been refused.

He said: “The sub-committee considered that the negative impact of the proposed premises in this specific location, with the proposed number of attendees, was not something which would be possible to mitigate through the proposed conditions of any further modification of the application.”

Foundation – grass mats were placed down by organisers on Monday morning a few hours before the licence application was rejected (Image: Daniel Rees, Newsquest) After the meeting, Mr Lane said he had spoken to Live Tour Promotions director Luke Betts during an interval and praised his conduct throughout the process.

He said: “I can see why he does so well at business.

“The idea was not crazy, just the wrong location.

“I wish him well.”

A spokesman for Molly O'Reilly's previously said it would refund all the customers who had bought tickets for the event if the licence application was rejected.