Commission Agrees To Hotel Transfer

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28222, 9 March 1957, Page 12

Commission Agrees To Hotel Transfer

No objection to the proposal to remove the licence of the Grand Hotel from Cashel street to Marshland road is held by the Licensing Control Commission. When the Christchurch Licensing Committee meets on Monday to hear the application for renewal, it can accept the commission’s directions and requirements for accommodation and standards of the proposed new premises, which will be of the motel-hotel type. The new location, said the commission, in its decision, will not in any way interfere with the distribution of licences in the Christchurch area, and, having regard to the progress of the proposed locality, the commission considered that a publican’s licence in the area was desirable. From the sketch plan only of the proposed new premises and accommodation placed before the commission by the owners, it was apparent, said the decision, that what the owners aimed at was the construction of a hotel-motel on American lines, which w*as proving popular and attractive. It was said there was a trend in Australia to adopt a similar type of construction. The commission approved of the general design. Specific Standards Specific minimum standards have been required by the commission. Among them are those covering accommodation for guests. The company had informed the commission that all the proposed guest accommodation would be heated and have adequate hot water supplies, and floors would be covered.

“The licensed premises shall provide accommodation for guests (exclusive of accommodation required for the licensee, his family, and staff) in four flats, each having a bedroom with twin beds, a sitting room capable of providing two day beds, a bath or shower room and handbasin, a lavatory, and a small kitchen,” the decision states. “Each bedroom shall have: a floor area ,of not less than 150 square feet, and each sitting room, apart from usual amenities, shall be sufficiently large for use as a bedroom for two if and when required. Future Extensions “The site and the construction of the premises shall be such as to allow for future extensions if and when directed by the commission, and/or the licensing committee. “The company has in view the extension of accommodation in these premises, and the commission will require that if and when directed, but not sooner than two years after the licence is removed, further accommodation shall be provided equal to that mentioned," said the decision.

“This interim decision will be incorporated in a further decision of the commission which will be released later when other matters which arose at the recent review in Christchurch have received consideration.”