Tavern Status Issues

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30998, 2 March 1966, Page 12

Tavern Status Issues

“Are you serious, or is this just a gesture? Isn’t it a tavern licence that you want for this place?” asked the chairman (Mr S. T. Barnett), when application was made to the Licensing Control Commission yesterday for a hotel premises licence for the Empire Hotel, Lyttelton.

After hearing submissions on behalf of the owners, Mr Barnett said the commission would inspect the hotel today and would be prepared to discuss the position with some authoritive person.

Mr N, P. Williamson, for the owners of the hotel, the estate of the late J. E. Bisman, said he had only been instructed at 9 a.m. that day. Some confusion had arisen because of the death of his partner five or six weeks ago, and his submissions were not as full as he would like. Mr Williamson said also that while the hotel's occupancy rate was not high, the hotel-keeper had gone to great pains to produce a clean, bright establishment ifr P. N. Quartermain, a trustee of the Bisman estate and a public accountant said the Empire had been owned by the family since 1924. The hotel was let for £2O a week. The trust’s income from the hotel had been £527 in 1962, £756 in 1963, £507 in 1964, £720 in 1965 and £530 in 1966. The trustees, he said, accepted all the inspection recommendations save those requiring the redesigning of entrances, a “face-liift” for the exterior and dining-room extensions.

He produced a report by an architect, Mr G. D. Griffiths, which stated that cracks in the west wall did not affect the building structurally, but should be mortared.

Mr Quartermain said that the trustees were worried at the expense that would be involved in redesigning the entrances.

“Occupancy was trifling last year, according to figures supplied to us—lB3 people spent the night there,” said Mr Barnett. Mr Quartermain: I wouldn't be surprised. Mr Barnett: Is this a hotel at all, or a tavern? If it is a tavern, this question of entrances resolves itself. Mr Quartermain: The present licensee tells me he is doing well with accommodation.

Mr Barnett: It is in our power to declare the hotel a tavern

When Mr Quartermain said that tavern status would require considerable alterations, Mr Barnett said that would apply also if the Empire remained a hotel. Rebuilding Difficulty It was not possible to enlarge the Oxford Hotel, Colombo street, without complete rebuilding, said Mr B. C. Lagan, the commercial manager for the Canterbury branch of New Zealand Breweries Ltd., owners of the hotel '(Mr N. G. Clark). A hotel premises licence was sought. He said the hotel had a 49 per cent occupancy rate, and asked the commission not to require the provision of more beds, in view of what the company had done in this respect in its other hotels. Mr Barnett said the commission would like to hear ap architect’s proposals for remodelling the interior. Sumner Hotel

There was a question whether the Cave Rock Hotel, Sumner, fell within the statutory provisions for a tavern, said Mr Barnett, when application was made for a hotel premises licence. Mr Barnett said no returns

had been made for the last two years. Mr G. T. Mahon, for the keepar, Mrs M. M. Lott, said that she was at loss to account for this, though her accountant had been ill.

“I am told that occupancy last year was between 25 and 30 per cent, so I don’t think the tavern question arises,” said Mr Mahon. “From April 1, 1965, to March 1. 1966, the hotel had 1268 guests.” Mr G. S. Rae, for the owner, Mr C. Pateman, of Blenheim, said that inspection recommendations would be met.

The commission adjourned until March 14 and 15, when submissions will be heard on deferred Christchurch applications, including the proposed licence for the Bishopdale shopping centre, and on Banks Peninsula and other country hotels.