Licensing committee concludes four-day hearing into adopting EMRO

A hearing into the possible adoption by Blackpool Council of what would the first Early Morning Restriction Order (EMRO) in the country has finished this week after four days.

Blackpool’s licensing committee, which has eight members, was set to meet today to consider its recommendation to the council.

The EMRO would prevent alcohol being served between 3 am and 6 am in a particular area of the town centre.

According to law firm John Gaunt & Partners, the options before the committee are to:

  • Recommend the EMRO as proposed;
  • Recommend an EMRO but in different terms to that proposed, “in which case the whole consultation process will have to start all over again”; or
  • Reject the implementation of the EMRO (“but perhaps with encouragement to the parties to work together to address possible issues in the Blackpool night time economy and indeed more widely”).

The licensing committee is expected to announce its decision early next week.

John Gaunt & Partners appeared on behalf of Funny Girls, which operates five of the 23 premises due to be affected if an EMRO is introduced as proposed.

The hearing also heard from three QCs including Philip Kolvin QC of Cornerstone Barristers, who appeared for the police.

Hartlepool Council previously considered and rejected the proposed introduction of an EMRO.