Alcohol licence refused for child’s first birthday party celebration

The application, submitted by interim centre coordinator Wendy Murdoch, was for a “Child’s 1st Birthday Party with buffet and Children’s Entertainer” on 10 October.

It sought on-sales and off-sales between noon and 17:00.

Licensing Standards Officer Catrina Andrew told the board the Carrick Centre had been in discussion with officers for several months about licensed events.

Her written report said the Maybole community facility trialled a “community bar” using occasional licences, before deciding a permanent licence was not in the best interests of the centre financially or suited to its “multiple use” purpose or shared facility with the church.

As a result, any licensed activities, events or functions at the centre require an occasional licence.

The report said there had already been a number this year, including family parties, community events and monthly quiz nights.

But Andrew objected to the first birthday party application, saying that no licences for any children’s events had been granted in South Ayrshire since the Licensing Scotland Act 2005 was brought in.

The event was expected to have a maximum of 60 guests, who would be friends and family of the parents, catered for between the bar area and main hall.