Item 4 - Application for Variation of Premises Licence - Avocet - Application & Op Plan_Redacted
West Dunbartonshire Council · 2 September 2025
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West Dunbartonshire Licensing Board APPLICATION FOR PREMISES LICENCE/PROVISIONAL PREMISES LICENCE* *Delete as appropriate Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005, section 20 APPLICANT INFORMATION Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005, section 20(1) Question 1 Name, address and postcode of premises to be licensed. Passenger Motor Vessel “Avocet” Docked at Sweeney’s Boatyard, Riverside, Balloch, G83 8SS Question 2 Particulars of applicant 2(a) Where applicant is an individual, provide full name, date and place of birth, and home address including postcode. 2(b) Where applicant is a partnership, please provide full name, and postal address of partnership. Sweeney’s Cruises (a partnership),
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2(c) Where applicant is a company, please provide name, registered office and company registration number. 2(d) Where the applicant is a club or other body, please provide full name, and postal address of club or other body. 2(e) Where applicant is a partnership, company, club or other body, please provide the names, dates and places of birth, and home addresses of connected persons.* John Dickson Sweeney, Catherine Mary Sweeney, * Connected person is defined in section 147(3) of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005. Question 3
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Previous applications 3 Has the applicant been refused a premises licence under section 23 of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 in respect of the same premises? YES/NO* If YES – provide full details Question 4 Previous convictions 4 Has the applicant or any connected person ever been convicted of a relevant or foreign offence (1) YES/NO* *If YES – provide full details For the purpose of this Act, a conviction for a relevant offence or foreign offence is to be disregarded if it is spent for the purpose of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 Name & position (if applicable) Date of conviction or sentence Court Offence Penalty (1) In addition to any convictions held by the applicant at the time of application, applicants should also familiarise themselves with the contents of section 24(1) of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 in respect of any convictions for relevant or foreign offences which they may receive during the period beginning with the making of the premises licence application and ending with determination of the application.
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DESCRIPTION OF PREMISES Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005, section 20(2)(a) Question 5 5 Description of premises (where application is submitted by a members’ club, please also complete question 6) The premises comprise of a motorised passenger vessel called Avocet. The boat is 26.7metres long and 7 metres wide. The boat consists of two passenger decks, with passenger seating on the main and upper deck areas. Staff only areas, such as engine room and steering gear room, are located on the under deck. The boat has 3 toilets, including one accessible toilet. The boat will service cruises and other trips operated by the applicant. There is a bar counter on the main deck for provision of on sales drinks (alcohol and non-alcohol), light snack and (for private charter) a buffet service. Recorded commentary for sightseeing cruises will be played, and light background music. A private charter may feature live music. Question 6 6 To be completed by members’ clubs only Do the club’s constitution and rules conform to the requirements of regulation 2 of the Licensing (Clubs) (Scotland) Regulations 2007? N/A * Delete as appropriate DECLARATION BY APPLICANT OR AGENT ON BEHALF OF APPLICANT If signing on behalf of the applicant please state in what capacity. The contents of this Application are true to the best of my knowledge and belief. Signature * (see note below) Date 14/05/2025 Capacity Solicitor APPLICANT/AGENT (delete as appropriate) Telephone number and email address of signatory solicitor
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I have enclosed the relevant documents with this application – please tick the relevant boxes Operating plan √ Layout plan √ Planning certificate Building standards certificate Food hygiene certificate * Data Protection Act 1998 The information on this form may be held on an electronic public register which may be available to members of the public on request. Contact Us: West Dunbartonshire Licensing Board Council Offices 16 Church Street Dumbarton G82 1QL Phone: 01389 738741 Email: licensing@west-dunbarton.gov.uk
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For use by the Licensing Board only Application checklist Date received Fee amount Receipt number Received by (INITIALS) Consideration date Last date for consideration Date of initial hearing Date of any modification hearing Date granted/refused (delete as appropriate) For use by the Licensing Board only If application is for a premises licence Documents required Operating plan Layout plan Planning certificate Building standards certificate Food hygiene certificate For use by the Licensing Board only If application is for a provisional premises licence Documents required Provisional planning certificate Operating plan Layout plan
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OPERATING PLAN Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005, section 20(2)(b)(i) Question 1 STATEMENT REGARDING ALCOHOL BEING SOLD ON PREMISES/OFF PREMISES OR BOTH 1(a) Will alcohol be sold for consumption solely ON the premises? YES 1(b) Will alcohol be sold for consumption solely OFF the premises? NO 1(c) Will alcohol be sold for consumption both ON and OFF the premises? NO *Delete as appropriate Question 2 STATEMENT OF CORE TIMES WHEN ALCOHOL WILL BE SOLD FOR CONSUMPTION ON PREMISES Day ON Consumption Opening time Terminal hour Monday 9.00 am * 11.00 pm ** Tuesday 9.00 am * 11.00 pm ** Wednesday 9.00 am * 11.00 pm ** Thursday 9.00 am * 11.00 pm ** Friday 9.00 am * 11.00 pm ** Saturday 9.00 am * 11.00 pm ** Sunday 9.00 am * 11.00 pm ** * Between the hours of 9.00am and 10.00am, alcohol will only be sold on the premises during a pre- booked private charter. The licence holder will notice the Council’s Licensing Standards Officer and Police Scotland’s Licensing Department in advance of such charters. ** The boat is subject to a sailing limitation of 1 hour after sunset each day, so sailing hours will vary during the calendar year. The on sale bar on the boat will close 10 mins prior to docking.
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Question 3 STATEMENT OF CORE TIMES WHEN ALCOHOL WILL BE SOLD FOR CONSUMPTION OFF PREMISES Day OFF Consumption Opening time Terminal hour Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Question 4 SEASONAL VARIATIONS Does the applicant intend to operate according to seasonal demand YES *If YES – provide details The boat is subject to a sailing limitation of 1 hour after sunset each day, so sailing hours will vary during the calendar year. The use of the boat will vary by season demand, since it will primarily be used for tourist cruising / trips on Loch Lomond.
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Question 5 PLEASE INDICATE THE OTHER ACTIVITIES OR SERVICES THAT WILL BE PROVIDED ON THE PREMISES IN ADDITION TO SUPPLY OF ALCOHOL COL. 1 5(a) Activity COL. 2 Please confirm YES/NO COL. 3 To be provided during core licensed hours – please confirm YES/NO COL. 4 Where activities are also to be provided outwith core licensed hours please confirm YES/NO Accommodation NO N/A N/A Conference facilities NO NO NO Restaurant facilities NO NO NO Bar meals NO NO NO 5(b) Activity Social functions including: Please confirm YES/NO To be provided during core licensed hours – please confirm YES/NO Where activities are also to be provided outwith core licensed hours please confirm YES/NO Receptions including Weddings, funerals, birthdays, retirements etc. YES YES YES Club or other group meetings etc. YES YES YES 5(c) Activity Entertainment including: Please confirm YES/NO To be provided during core licensed hours – please confirm YES/NO Where activities are also to be provided outwith core licensed hours please confirm YES/NO Recorded music – see 5(g) YES YES YES Live performances – see 5(g) YES YES YES Dance facilities NO NO NO Theatre NO NO NO
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Films NO NO NO Gaming NO NO NO Indoor/outdoor sports NO NO NO Televised sport NO NO NO 5(d) Activity Please confirm YES/NO To be provided during core licensed hours – please confirm YES/NO Where activities are also to be provided outwith core licensed hours please confirm YES/NO Outdoor drinking facilities YES YES YES 5(e) Activity Please confirm YES/NO To be provided during core licensed hours – please confirm YES/NO Where activities are also to be provided outwith core licensed hours please confirm YES/NO Adult entertainment NO NO NO Where you have answered YES in respect of any entry in column 4 above, please provide further details below. The boat may sail from 9.00am each day, and prior to the commencement of on sales hours, the operators may offer a provision of hot and cold non-alcoholic drinks and light snacks (where not being used as a private charter). Recorded music at a background level may play before licensed hours and after closure of the bar, until disembarking is completed. Where there is a private charter of the boat, the activities may include a buffet (pre-prepared by caterers) and feature live music or a live speaker during the event. These may extend out with licensed hours but subject always to the sailing hours restriction. Outdoor drinking facilities relates to the upper deck where hot and cold non-alcoholic drinks may be taken prior to core hours. 5(f) any other activities If you propose to provide any activities other than those listed in 5(a) – (e) please provide details or further information in the box below. Provision of light snacks and/or buffet
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5(g) Late night premises opening after 1.00am Where you have confirmed that you are providing live or recorded music, will the decibel level exceed 85dB? N/A When fully occupied, are there likely to be more customers standing than seated? N/A *Delete as appropriate Question 6 (On-sales only) CHILDREN AND YOUNG PERSONS 6(a) When alcohol is being sold for consumption on the premises will children or young persons be allowed entry YES *Delete as appropriate 6(b) Where the answer to 6(a) is YES provide statement of the TERMS under which they will be allowed entry Children and young persons will be entitled to access all public parts of the boat, provided that they are accompanied by an adult.
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6(c) Provide statement regarding the AGES of children or young persons to be allowed entry 0-17 years 6(d) Provide statement regarding the TIMES during which children and young persons will be allowed entry All operating hours 6(e) Provide statement regarding the PARTS of the premises to which children and young persons will be allowed entry All public areas Question 7 CAPACITY OF PREMISES What is the proposed capacity of the premises to which this application relates? 160 passengers Question 8 PREMISES MANAGER (NOTE: not required where application is for grant of provisional premises licence) Personal details 8(a) Name Craig Sweeney
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8(b) Date of birth 8(c) Contact address 8(d) Email address 8(e) Personal licence Date of issue Name of Licensing Board issuing Reference no. of personal licence West Dunbartonshire WD/1411 DECLARATION BY APPLICANT OR AGENT ON BEHALF OF APPLICANT If signing on behalf of the applicant please state in what capacity. The contents of this operating plan are true to the best of my knowledge and belief. Signatur * (see note below) Date 14/05/2025 Capacity Solicitor APPLICANT/AGENT (delete as appropriate) Telephone number and email address of signatory * Data Protection Act 1998 The information on this form may be held on an electronic public register which may be available to members of the public on request. solicitor
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Contact Us: West Dunbartonshire Licensing Board Council Offices 16 Church Street Dumbarton G82 1QL Phone: 01389 738741 Email: licensing@west-dunbarton.gov.uk