A BOWLING club on the Cowal Peninsula has succeeded in its bid to install an outdoor drinking area, and to extend its on-sales core hours on competition days.
Upper Cowal Bowling Club sought to make the changes following a recent donation of picnic tables for its use.
Its plans included beginning on-sales at 10am on Saturday and Sunday when competitions are taking place on the green.
Members of the Argyll and Bute licensing board agreed to the changes at a meeting on Tuesday, February 24.
Club secretary Dan Whyte told the board: “What prompted the variation in the first place is that we got a donation of picnic tables for the outside drinking area.
“We wanted to use these and be able to take drinks outside. I spoke to Raymond Park (licensing standards officer) about it and he suggested we go forward.
“With the weather we had last year, it would be nice to use the tables and be able to take a drink outside.”
Mr Park said: “We have had many discussions over the current operating plan, and what the club wants to do in the future.
“They want to do a bit more in respect of fundraising to keep the club going. On Saturday and Sunday you are looking at 10am, which is outside the board policy, but Mr Whyte is happy that it will only be on matchdays.”
Councillor Paul Kennedy (Liberal Democrat, Helensburgh and Lomond South) then asked: “Regarding the extra hour opening at 10am on a Saturday and Sunday, would it not be dangerous to set a precedent, even if it is only going to be for matchdays?
“Other premises could say ‘If they can get it, why can’t we?’.”
Councillor Kieron Green (Independent, Oban North and Lorn) responded: “This is not the first application we have had from a bowling club that also had 10am as a start time.
“I would say that it is a fairly standard time for matches to take place and participants to be out on the greens for the morning.
“It is easiest for them to ensure they have suitable refreshments rather than having a queue at the bar at 11am and then resume.
“That was my understanding when a premises previously applied for similar hours.”
Mr Whyte then said: “You have summed up exactly the reason for this. Clubs in our area have their own invitation days and they all start at 10am.
“It is not necessary, but it is an added bonus If we have the extra hour covered.”
Councillor Green said: “We can arrange for the condition that it is tied to the bowling club and competitions, so that if other clubs want to apply, it cannot be for other premises.
“The conditions would be restricted to competitions and would not be applied to licenced premises in general.”
Mr Whyte added: “It would apply a maximum of three times a year, to cover the competitions we run in the summer.”
