STROUD licensee fined for illegal sale of alcohol and music.

Wendy Townsend of the Lockkeepers Cafe, Wallbridge, pleaded guilty in writing, at Cheltenham Magistrates Court, on Monday, September 2 to a charge under the Licensing Act 2003 of knowingly allowing the sale of alcohol and music entertainment to take place without any proper authorisation.

Towsend holds a premises licence for the Lockkeepers Café which permits licensable activities until 10pm.

On April 13 an event was held there which included the selling of alcohol and a DJ playing music which went on until midnight.

There was no licence extension in place to cover the event.

Council environmental health officers witnessed the offences when they were undertaking routine noise monitoring in the area.

Stroud District Council took the case to the magistrates court where the district judge issued a fine of £260 and granted £700 in costs.

Rachel Andrew, principal licensing officer, said: “Licensable activities of sale of alcohol and regulated entertainment are controlled in order to prevent crime and disorder, prevent public nuisance, ensure public safety and protect children, and must be covered by either a premises licence or a temporary event notice.

"We will prosecute if they take place without authorisation.”