We’ve now held four Q&A sessions for members to put their questions to committee members.
Thank you to those who joined us (either in person or online).
Here is a summary of those discussions:
1. Does a premises licence stop us having children on the premises?
No
2. Does a premises licence mean we have to put a limit on the time that children have to leave the Club by?
The police could request it but in the experience of the licensing lawyer advising the Club knowing we are a family and community based Club they won’t.
3. Will a premises licence mean that the police can come in more often?
No. The police will, as now, be able to come in at anytime but that hasn’t happened
4. If we have events that the public as well as members can attend will members get a pre-release of tickets/will members always get a % allocation of tickets?
They could do. The committee could agree that.
5. Will a premises licence mean increased drinks prices?
No
6. Will there be differential pricing for drinks between members and guests and then the public? How can the committee make membership worthwhile?
Yes, there could be. The committee is looking at a new card system that would identify members and ensure they got members prices at any bar at any event.
7. What are the procedures around the online attendance at the AGM/SGM?
- those joining will provide their email beforehand (which we will match against the email the Club has for them) and the vote link will be sent to that email address at the end of the meeting.
- the online meeting will be a Zoom webinar so the members will not be visible
- members online will be expected to join for the AGM and SGM and stay online to get a vote
- We will have Club member scrutineers for both the online and face-to-face vote.
- Here’s the legal advice we’ve received on holding a vote at a hybrid meeting such as this.
8. Does the new licence change the nature of the Club?
No. We will still be a members Club with ‘the public’ only being allowed in at our discretion (so for weddings or parties or wakes or to bingo or specific events).
Going forward people would still need to ‘buzz’ to get entry to the Club (or go through security on a Friday/Saturday
9. Why do we need the new licence, is it about getting more money into the Club?
We have been written to by the council and the change of licence is about being legal (and not constructing questionable ways round our current licence limitations). It is not about increasing revenue.
10. Could there be a commitment that a % of ticket sales to the public from any event that they can buy tickets for would be used to reduce the ticket prices for the next event for member? Or a variation on this?
Yes the committee could stipulate that.
11. For any event involving the public, could we have a members price, a guest price and a public price?
Yes the committee could stipulate that.
12. Will there be a new rule book issued to members?
The new rule book will replace the old one and any member wanting a copy can get one. The new rules will also be on the website.
13. What is the order of the two SGMs – rule book first or premises licence first?
The leaflet suggests premises licence first but the logic may be rule book, then premises licence.
14. The members may be reassured on the licence SGM that the Mildmay Club won’t be ‘turned into a venue’ by adding reference to the Club’s guiding principle that it is a social Club. That is contained in the proposed new rule and would make the motion as follows (my emphasis):
“(3) Any reference to a Club Premises Certificate includes reference to a Premises License or any other similar License granted to the Club by a statutory authority but in the event of the Club adopting a premises licence the commitment in Rule 1 shall be paramount.”
15. Why are the words in bold below in the premises SGM motion?
“(3) Any reference to a Club Premises Certificate includes reference to a Premises License or any other similar License granted to the Club by a statutory authority but in the event of the Club adopting a premises licence the commitment in Rule 1 shall be paramount”
They were put in to future proof in case Parliament or Hackney decide to rename a ‘premises licence’ into something else. Having the text in bold means if they do we don’t have to have another rule book change. But we could lose them
16. Would non members and non guests be allowed in if we change the rules/licence?
Not unless we chose to let them in e.g. for a wedding or a wake or a party or visiting games teams.
The Club will remain a Club for its members and their guests only.
17. What is the position now when non members non guests come in?
We are in breach of our licence if we allow them to buy alcohol
18. What could happen if we are found to be in breach of our licence?
At the most extreme the licence could be taken away and the Club would have to close its bars.