Innsatiable: Controversial Farnham venue granted premises licence
Atkins had caused uproar among licensees and pub industry bodies for operating his business without a premises licence.
Customers at Innsatiable are offered free drinks before being invited to purchase a beer mat for £2.75. Other furniture in the venue is also available for purchase.
Atkins applied for a premises licence on 28 September, saying he wants to “offer consumers an alternative to the large pub company and brewery-dominated landscape of Britain’s drinks industry”.
The licence was granted today (5 November) and Atkins said that it is business as usual at the Farnham outlet.
“Nothing has changed at all,” said Atkins. “We are still running the free bar and carrying on the retail side of the business with the beermats and furniture. We were perfectly entitled to do what we were doing, and we just want to continue with that.”
He added: “The council were looking into the situation and had sent people down to see how we do things, and that was great because there was all this heresay that we were selling alcohol, which we weren’t. It was really the backlash from other licensed premises saying it was unfair competition which made me apply for a licence.
“People seem to think that it costs a fortune to have a licence but it doesn’t - it is the high prices that pubcos and breweries force on their tenants which is the issue. I feel sorry for tenants really.”
Atkins added that he didn’t know whether or not he will be applying for premises licences for the next five outlets he is due to open in the coming months.
“We had four good months doing what were doing (in Farnham), said Atkins. “It will be up to how the other councils perceive it.”
Atkins said that the openings in Winchester and Chichester had been put on hold until the third week of November and Guildford until February. However, he said he still expects the Bournemouth and Southampton sites to be open by the end of November.
Innsatiable in Farnham will open from 10am with a provision for alcohol sales until 23.30 Monday-Thursday, 23.45 Friday and Saturday, and 22.30 on Sundays.
There is also a provision for live music from 19.00-23.30 Monday-Thursday and from 12.00-22.30 on Sundays.
Recorded music is licensed from 12.00-23.30 Monday-Thursday, 12.00-23.45 Friday and Saturday, and 12.00-22.30 on Sundays.
The agreed conditions of the premises licence are:
- The premises shall operate a “Challenge 25” policy and shall only accept passport and photo driving licence as forms of identification.
- No under 18’s shall be allowed in the premises after 19:00.
- SIA-registered door staff shall be employed at the premises on Friday and Saturday evenings. Door staff shall be employed from 19:00 and shall be retained on duty until the end of permitted hours and any such later time as may be necessary to monitor the safe dispersal of customers away from the area of the venue.
- Outside areas shall not be used for the consumption of alcohol or food after 23:00.
- No glasses or bottles shall be allowed to be taken outside after 23:00.
- Outside tables and chairs shall be vacated and removed by 23:00.
- The sale/supply of alcohol shall be by waiter/waitress service only.
- Any live or recorded music shall only be played inside the premises and not in the outside area.
A spokesman for Waverley Borough Council said: “No objections were received in relation to the application for a premises licence for Innsatiable, 12 The Woolmead, Farnham. In accordance with the Licensing Act 2003, the licence has been granted.”
Licensing expert Peter Coulson said: "He now has permission to sell alcohol but if he doesn't sell alcohol, then he isn't using his licence. However, unless there is a condition on his licence saying he can't give away alcohol, then he is perfectly entitled to do that."
