Brighton pub given outside licence for marathon

A Brighton pub has been given a temporary event licence allowing customers to eat and drink outside on the day of the Brighton Marathon next Sunday (15 April).

The Camelford Arms in Camelford Street was granted the licence despite an objection being raised by Sussex Police.

The pub’s owners said that they wanted to support a team of 11 runners who were raising money for the mental health charity Mind.

They hope that if the weather is sunny that up to 250 people might be able drink inside and outside the pub and boost the team’s fundraising efforts.

Inspector Roy Apps, from Sussex Police, said that the force had concerns about potential crime and disorder, in particular, noise nuisance and anti-social behaviour.

Solicitor Nick Perkins told a Brighton and Hove City Council licensing panel that the owners held three events outside the premises last year without any complaints.

He said that there would be marshalling to keep people safe, to prevent obstructions in the street and to ensure that customers did not cause any problems. Plans to put out tables and chairs were withdrawn.

Mr Perkins said that the pub had already held fundraising events in support of the team running the marathon.

He said: “They’ve raised £1,000 so far. They expect to raise a similar sum on the day and they expect to make a donation based on their takings on the day.”

Although Camelford Street is not formally being closed for the marathon, it would be inaccessible to traffic for part of the day because of the race, the panel was told.

The pub’s owner Alistair Mackinnon-Musson said: “This is a genuine attempt by a community pub to raise money for the Mind charity with the team that’s running the marathon and to involve our local community in the process.

“If it rains, this is all irrelevant anyway because no one would want to stand outside on a day like yesterday (Monday 9 April).

“We just want people to be able to stand outside and have a drink on a sunny Sunday afternoon and raise money for charity.”

Mr Mackinnon-Musson said that 250 people would be a manageable number, adding that the pub regularly had 150 to 200 people inside.

The Camelford will be able to sell drinks from 11am to 11.30pm on Sunday, with customers able to drink and eat in the street until 8pm.

The weather forecast suggests that it will be dry but overcast, cool and breezy.