Shop allowed to open 24 hours during Birmingham Pride

A city centre shop has permission to sell booze 24 hours per day over the Birmingham Pride weekend despite objections from police.

Staff at Turkish Convenience Food Store, Smallbrook Queensway, had applied for permission to sell alcohol from 4am until 7.59am from September 25 to 27 – the period not covered by an existing licence.

West Midlands Police had said there was a risk of antisocial behaviour as well as the possibility revellers who had been at the event could become vulnerable to crime due to intoxication.

But councillors on a Birmingham City Council licensing committee have decided not to issue a counter notice to the shop’s temporary event notice, meaning it can go ahead.

Following a hearing in August, the committee consisting of chair Cllr Diane Donaldson (Lab, Bromford and Hodge Hill), Cllr Adam Higgs (Con, Highter’s Heath) and Cllr Mike Leddy (Brandwood and Kings Heath) has given its decision.

It states: “The sub-committee is of the opinion that the temporary event should be allowed to proceed at the premises, as there is insufficient evidence to indicate that the event would be likely to give rise to an increase in crime and disorder, or become a risk to the public safety objective within the [Licensing Act 2003].

“It was also noted by the sub-committee that there had been no untoward incidents at the premises; this suggested that the temporary event was not likely to undermine the licensing objectives generally.

“The sub-committee heard that there were other alcohol-licensed premises, such as late-night bars and clubs, in Southside and the Gay Village, both of which were in the vicinity of the Pride event site.

“These included premises in the Arcadian Centre which operated to 3am or 4am, like the Turkish Convenience Food Store. These premises would be selling alcohol for consumption on or inside the premises – as opposed to the Turkish Convenience Food Store, which would be selling it for consumption off the premises.

“However it appeared to the sub-committee that there was no significant risk in allowing the shop, which was already licensed to 4am daily, to trade across 24 hours as a temporary event.

“It had operated for ten years under the existing licence with no untoward incidents. The sub-committee therefore considered it appropriate to attach to the temporary event all conditions attached to the permanent premises licence.”

Birmingham Pride will be held over the weekend of September 25 and 26 with further events held from September 23 and is expected to attract 40,000 people to the festival site in the Gay Village.