Public Licencing Board Agenda 16 September 2026
Midlothian Council · 24 September 2026
Back to Midlothian Licensing Board — 24 September 2026 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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Midlothian Council Midlothian Fairfield House Licensing Board 8 Lothian Road Dalkeith EH22 3ZQ Clerk Tel 0131 271 3529 Alan Turpie MIDLOTHIAN LICENSING BOARD Venue: Normandy Court Normandy Drive Dalkeith EH22 1JG Date: 16 September 2026 Time: 10am A Turpie Clerk AGENDA 1 Apologies 2 Order of Business – including notice of new business submitted as urgent for consideration at the meeting Minutes 3 Minutes of Meeting, dated 16 June 2026 - Paper No 1 Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 4 5 6 Info for Licensing Board Members - Five Licensing Objectives – Paper No 2 Application for Variation of Premises Licence – Costco, Costkea Way, Loanhead - Paper No 3 Application for Variation of Premises Licence - Stair Arms Hotel, Pathhead - Paper No 4 Midlothian
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Minute of Meeting Midlothian Licensing Board Meeting Date Time Venue Tuesday 16th June 2026 9.30am Via Teams Margot Russell (Chair) Colin Cassidy Pauline Winchester Stephen Curran (virtual) Dianne Alexander Douglas Bowen (virtual) Peter Smaill (Virtual) Russel Imrie Willie McEwan Derek Oliver Alan Turpie Clerk PC Wilson Police Scotland In Attendance: Chris Grunert Lewis Barn Kevin White Alistair MacDonald Wiliam Stobie Louise Middleton Democratic Services Officer 1. Welcome and Apologies The Chair welcomed everyone to this special meeting of the Midlothian Licensing Board (MLB). Apologies were received from Mr Millgan. WEDNESDAY 16 SEPTEMBER 2026 LICENSING BOARD PAPER NO 1
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2. Order of Business The Order of Business was as per the agenda. The Clerk noted that agenda item 6, the application from Scotmid would be taken as the first application heard. 3. Minutes of Previous Meeting The Minute of the Meeting of 11 February 2026 submitted for approval. The Minute of the previous meeting was approved as the correct record, moved by Ms Winchester and seconded by Chair. Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 Report No. Report Title Presented by: 4. Information for Licensing Board Members - Five Licensing Objectives Chair Outline of Report and Summary of Discussion The Chair noted this report was for information only and a helpful reminder of the Licensing Objectives. Decision The content of the report was noted. Report No. Report Title Presented by: 5. Application for Premises Licence – Best One, 133-134 Main Street, Newtongrange Clerk Outline of Report and Summary of Discussion The Clerk presented the application in relation to: • An increase in the off-sale display capacity to 28.48 square metres. • To add recorded music as an activity. • To provide that the premises may be open from 6am until 11pm and activities relating to the day-to-day operation of a convenience store will take place during that period, but alcohol will sold or supplied out with licensed hours. • To add deliveries which may include as an activity. • The Clerk noted that all reports were satisfactory. Mr Alistair MacDonald of MacDonald Licensing and Zain Shahm the applicant, presented this application. The premises in the application is a local convenience store in Newtongrange and the customers are mainly local people. The intention is to play low key background music which will not be played at a high volume or interfering with shoppers. The application is also for an increase in the alcohol display
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which will involve having a dedicated alcohol area. This will be an area where just alcohol is stored, and Mr MacDonald felt this was positive as there would be no reason for an underage person to be in that area. Staff are well trained and implement challenge 25 quickly and have had to refuse alcohol sales in the past and will confidently do this again if required. The store has no issue with anti-social behaviour. Mr Curran enquired what checks and processes were in place in respect of home deliveries for the drivers. Mr MacDonald noted that deliveries are carried out by staff who work in the shop so have received the training and are well versed in the challenge 25 rule. Mr Curran also asked if there was to be a change to delivery staff would appropriate training me provided. Mr MacDonald noted that deliveries are local and just a matter of staff nipping out and they did not believe the applicant would use a delivery company as they take a fee, but if a delivery company was to be used in the future the applicant would take all comments on board. Mr Bowen asked for an indication of staffing levels in the shop throughout the day. Mr MacDonald said there was always at least two staff working, and an extra staff member during busy periods. The application was granted and moved by Mr Imrie and seconded by Ms Winchester. Decision The application was noted and granted. Report No. Report Title Presented by: 6. Application for Variation of Premises Licence – Scotmid, 18 Station Road, Roslin Clerk Outline of Report and Summary of Discussion The Clerk presented the application in relation to a variation to the operating plan: Recorded background music may be played within and out with core hours. A home delivery service of groceries, which may include alcohol will be available subject to demand. The Clerk noted that all reports were satisfactory. Mr Lewis Barn of Hillbarn Licensing and Kevin White, Compliance Manager at Scotmid provided details of the application. Mr Barn advised on the roll out of home deliveries which will be a wider project across all stores in Scotland. Scotmid have noted the change in customer shopping habits and the demand for home deliveries in rural areas. Mr Barn noted that all delivery drivers will be trained in licensing objectives and every person purchasing alcohol via home delivery will be required to show an Identification Document (ID) to allow delivery to take place and should this not be provided alcohol will be returned to the store. Mr Barn said that Scotmid had already been running home deliveries in other stores without any issues.
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Mr Barn added that the other part of the application was to have recorded music playing in store. Mr Imrie asked why stores would play background music in stores. Mr Barn noted this was to give people something to listen to whilst doing their weekly shop and also to give staff something to listen to whilst working and create ambience. Mr Curran queried the age verification for alcohol deliveries and asked if there had been cases where alcohol had been returned to stores. Mr Barn said they did not have exact figures of how many times this has occurred but that this had happened in the past and drivers were trained to explain this to customers. The application was granted and moved by Ms Winchester and seconded by Mr Cassidy. Report No. Report Title Presented by: 7. Application for Variation of Premises Licence – Premier Inn, Land to North Melville Driving Range, Melville Dykes Road, Lasswade Clerk Outline of Report and Summary of Discussion The Clerk presented the application in relation to a variation to operating plan: • To amend the stated commencement hours for breakfast etc from 7am to 6am. • To vary the capacity to reflect a decrease in the internal capacity of the food and beverage area from 200 person to 90 person, a decrease in the Off sale area from 20.88 sqm to 1 sqm and an increase in the external capacity from 80 persons to 90 persons and residential capacity from 120 persons to 336 persons. • Layout plan – to reflect the demolition of the existing standalone restaurant, the expansion of the hotel footprint (with resulting increase in hotel bedrooms) and creation of new food and beverage area and outdoor drinking space. • Amend description of the premises to – Hotel with integral food and beverage area open to resident and non-resident customers. The Clerk noted that all reports were satisfactory. Chris Grunert, Whitbread Group Plc was in attendance for this application and noted that the application was a wider scheme by Whitbread who are now focussing on the Premier Inn brand. In conjunction with that scheme work has been proposed to update and develop the estate and the existing hotel will be extended. The number of bedrooms will increase from 40 to 112, there will be a dedicated food and beverage area within the structure of the hotel. The food area will be open to members of the public and residents. The Chair noted that Premier Inns were opening all over the country. Mr Grunert agreed, adding that they hoped this hotel would attract people to Midlothian. The application was moved by Mr Imrie and seconded by Mr Smaill.
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6. Private Reports Exclusion of Members of the Public (A) TO CONSIDER RESOLVING TO DEAL WITH THE UNDERNOTED BUSINESS IN PRIVATE IN TERMS OF PARAGRAPH 1, 8 and 9 OF PART 1 OF SCHEDULE 7A TO THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (SCOTLAND) ACT 1973 - THE RELEVANT REPORTS ARE THEREFORE NOT FOR PUBLICATION; AND (B) TO NOTE THAT NOTWITHSTANDING ANY SUCH RESOLUTION, INFORMATION MAY STILL REQUIRE TO BE RELEASED UNDER THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION (SCOTLAND) ACT 2002 OR THE ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION REGULATIONS 2004. 7. Date of Next Meeting The next full Licensing Board meeting will be held on 16 September 2026 at 10.00am. The meeting ended at 9.55am.
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WEDNESDAY 16 SEPTEMBER 2026 LICENSING BOARD PAPER NO 2 Five Licensing objectives - The licensing objectives provide a basis for the administration of the licensing regime. The five licensing objectives are – • Preventing crime and disorder • Securing public safety • Preventing public nuisance • Protecting and improving public health • Protecting children and young persons from harm
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WEDNESDAY 16 SEPTEMBER 2026 LICENSING BOARD PAPER NO 3 APPLICATION FOR VARIATION OF PREMISES LICENCE No Applicant Agent Premises Remarks 1 Costco Wholesale (UK) Limited Hill Brown Costco Costkea Way Loanhead Variation to Operating Plan – To increase Off Sale Hours to - Mons to Suns 10am to 10pm To remove reference to seasonal variations Digital Photocentre to be removed and replaced with Hearing Centre
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WEDNESDAY 16 SEPTEMBER 2026 LICENSING BOARD PAPER NO 4 APPLICATION FOR VARIATION OF PREMISES LICENCE No Applicant Agent Premises Remarks 1 Stair Arms Hotel Ltd Stair Arms Hotel Pathhead Variation to Layout Plan and Operating Plan – To add the new Wedding Ceremony Room and The Courtyard to the current Premises Licence Current On sales and Off Sales time will apply – On sales - Mons to Thurs - 11am to 11pm Fris and Sats - 11am to 1am Suns – 12 noon to 11pm Off sales – Mons to Sats 11am to 10pm Suns – 12 noon to 10pm Alcohol may be supplied to bona fide residents only outside core hours. The use of the restaurant, conference facilities, receptions, Courtyard and Ceremony Room may start before licensing commencement time but no alcohol would be served at this time except under the authority of an extended licence.
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Terms - Children and young persons (0-17) will be permitted access to the Restaurant, Function Room, Ceremony Room, Courtyard, Patio Area, Reception and Grounds for the purposes of having a meal or attending a function. Parts - They will be allowed in Accommodation, Function Suite, Reception, Restaurant, Bar Area, Toilets, Ceremony Room, Courtyard and all Grounds Times – Mons to Thurs – 8am to 11.15pm Fris and Sats - 8am to 1.15am Suns - 8am to 11.15pm