Troon nightclub losing out to Prestwick pub

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

TRENDY Prestwick pub Elliots is taking weekend business from a Troon nightclub, licensing chiefs heard.

Pebbles Nightclub boss Robert Girvan says he has seen a 16 per cent drop in takings.

And it coincides with Elliots being granted a 1.30am finish in October last year.

Other pubs in South Ayrshire close at 12.30am, and for nightclubs like Pebbles it’s 2.30am.

Mr Girvan, together with his lawyer Brian Dunlop, made a plea for the restoration of a two-hour differential.

But the Pebbles bid for a 3.30am finish on Fridays and Saturdays was rejected by South Ayrshire Licensing Board.

Mr Girvan told the board: “There used to be a procession of taxis from Prestwick, but not since Elliots got their late licence.”

Lawyer Brian Dunlop earlier outlined how well Pebbles is run.

And he pointed to no objections from either police or nearby residents to the club staying open later.

Mr Dunlop explained how Pebbles, in business for 25 years, boasts three separate dance areas.

He said: “These are first class premises, with no problems from under-age drinking or public disorder.”

Mr Dunlop also highlighted a £15,000 state-of-the-art CCTV system and proven sound-proofing.

He said the club formerly attracted 50,000 patrons per year, but business is now down by 16 per cent.

Mr Dunlop added: “The erosion of the differential means the journey to Troon (from Prestwick) is not worthwhile.”

The licensing board went into recess to discuss the Pebbles application.

And on returning, chairman Councillor Douglas Campbell made it clear: “It’s not for the board to regulate competition.”

He explained that under the new licensing act, there are no longer different types of licence, and it is up to individual premises to have an operating plan.

Elliots had been granted the extra hour (until 1.30am), for a number of reasons, including substantial entertainment.

Councillor Campbell added: “They (Elliots) could come back for another hour, and then you are in the same situation.”

There was unanimous board backing for Councillor Campbell’s statement: “The terminal hour at the moment is 2.30am.”

If Pebbles was given 3.30am, nightclubs in Ayr would clearly want the same.

And it seems the board believes that premises have the opportunity to do more within their existing hours.

Elliots certainly has the winning formula at the moment, adapting to the time of day – everything from breakfasts to late night discos.