Council / Legion games room change among licence variations approved by councillors
SHETLAND’s licensing board dealt with a number of licence variations at its latest meeting on Monday morning.
The Wine Shop on Lerwick’s Commercial Street was granted permission to open on Sundays at 10am instead of the current 12pm.
Owner Robert Smith wrote to the board to say that the request was due to the growing cruise market and the fact that passengers can arrive off their ships into Lerwick on Sunday mornings.
Meanwhile the Lerwick Legion was given approval to change its operating plan.
The provision of bar meals was among the changes, as well as conference facilities from 8am to 11am.
There are also changes regarding entry for children and young people. They can only enter if they are accompanied by a current member of the club.
Children will now be allowed into the main room nightly until 1am during family functions only, such as weddings. Current entry is for Saturday nights only.
Meanwhile another change was for children to be allowed entry to the downstairs games room from 11am to 10pm every day.
A representative for the venue told Monday’s meeting that this will allow young people to play sports like darts, instead of being turned away as they currently are.
There were no objections or adverse comments from agencies such as the police or the health board.
Shetland Central councillor Moraig Lyall said she hoped that having the games room open would not encourage young people to avoid school – but chairman Neil Pearson noted how there would be responsible adults present.
Lyall also questioned if allowing young people into the venue later would increase their exposure to drunken behaviour.
However there was generally positive feedback around the changes, with Shetland Central member Catherine Hughson saying they would “enhance a community facility for the use of everybody”.
Regarding the venue expanding its conference facilities, Hughson also noted how the Legion has already been using its function room for training proposes.
Meanwhile the Lerwick Co-op was also given approval to add home deliveries to its operating plan, with alcohol only to be delivered within current licensing hours.
The board also approved its combined annual functions and financial report for 2023/24.
Councillors heard that the number of licence holders in Shetland was fairly similar to the previous year, while the board recorded a small surplus of £5,855.
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