Prestwick pubs weekend trade hit by new bar

Mar 5 2010 by Edwin Lawrence, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

PUBS in Prestwick have also seen their late night weekend trade hit by Elliots.

But both the Golf Inn and the Red Lion failed in bids for later hours.

Pauline Rollo of the Golf Inn asked for an extra half-hour on Fridays and Saturday, from 12.30 to 1am.

She told South Ayrshire Licensing Board: “There used to be an influx of business, before customers went on to Elliots.”

But after gaining a 1.30am finish, Elliots introduced a cover charge for customers seeking entry after 11pm.

Now customers are leaving pubs like the Golf Inn from 10.30pm, to avoid paying the £3 cover charge at Elliots.

A lawyer for Ms Rollo, who has run the inn for nine years, said karaoke was the kind of entertainment her customers were looking for.

She pointed out: “Not everyone wants club-type entertainment, and this would give customers the opportunity to enjoy a longer evening.”

The Red Lion has space for a live DJ and dancing, as well as karaoke. And the pub also boasts 16 CCTV cameras

Boss Ronald Morton asked for the same 1.30am finish as Elliots, on Fridays and Saturdays.

Mr Morton said he felt the Elliots charge was unfair, so didn’t really want to introduce one himself.

But, if it was a requirement, he would introduce a £1.50 charge at 12.30am, and donate the proceeds to CLIC Sargent.

However, the licensing board took a unanimous view that neither the Golf Inn nor the Red Lion should get later hours.

In the case of the Golf Inn, the licensing board doesn’t view karaoke as ‘substantial’ in terms of entertainment.

And Mr Morton of the Red Lion conceded he wouldn’t have stewards on the door, with senior staff collecting cover charges.

But neither pub is offering enough in entertainment or late night regulation of customers to satisfy the board.

And there were no dissenting voices when chairman, Councillor Douglas Campbell moved refusal on grounds of ‘securing public safety and protecting and improving public health’.