Council wins key licensing battles to keep town centre nightlife safe and vibrant

Article date: 10 June 2025

The council's clear and consistent stance has recently led to the successful defence of two licensing decisions at Magistrates Court after premises appealed them, highlighting its commitment to a vibrant early evening and night-time economy - while discouraging crime, disorder, and anti-social behaviour.

One case involved the premises formerly known as Kandy Klub. The venue reopened as Maloneys in March 2024, but historic issues of violence and disorder quickly escalated, resulting in a summary review and permanent revocation of its licence in June 2024.

After the premises' operator appealed the council's decision, the District Judge upheld the council's actions, criticising the venue's management and ordering the operator to pay more than £27,000 in legal costs.

The judge also commended the council for its diligence and the support it had offered to the venue in attempting to help it operate responsibly.

In another case, the council successfully defended its decision to deny an application by Bar 44 to extend its opening hours to 5am.

St Helens Borough Council's licensing policy discourages opening hours beyond 3am, as later hours are associated with increased risks of crime and public nuisance.

Following the council's refusal of the application the venue appealed the decision in court, fully aware of the potential legal costs. The judge dismissed the appeal and ordered the premised to pay £30,000 in legal costs. Had the appeal succeeded, it could have opened the door to widespread 5am licences, undermining efforts to maintain a safe night time environment.

Councillor Trisha Long, Cabinet Member for Stronger Communities, said:

"We fully appreciate the challenges facing local night-time economy businesses and the way that nightlife trends are changing. We will always support responsible venues to navigate and succeed in this environment in line with the vision of our licensing policy and through our strong collaborative partnerships like our Night-Time Economy Forum, which has led to our award of the Purple Flag for three years running.

"While alcohol understandably plays a part in any night-time economy, we must make sure that it doesn't contribute to crime or anti-social behaviour in our borough, through our role as the licensing authority and a key community safety partner. Residents should be reassured that we will  always take firm action where necessary to protect the public."

Purple Flag is an international accreditation programme that recognises those who achieve safe and thriving locations at night for all visitors.

Clinching the award means that judges recognised the vibrant and diverse mix of dining, entertainment and culture on offer in St Helens town centre while also promoting the safety and wellbeing of visitors and residents.