Dorset Council Sparks Outrage Over Black Dog Seating Row
A Weymouth pub says it could lose more than four hours of its existing outside seating hours following an objection from Dorset Council Highways.
The Black Dog on St Mary Street has publicly raised concerns over the future of its pavement seating after submitting an application to renew its existing pavement licence.
According to the pub, its current licence permits outside seating until 10pm, while the latest application sought to extend the permitted hours by two hours, until midnight.
The business says the request for the later finishing time was primarily driven by safety concerns.
However, the pub claims Highways has objected to the outside seating remaining after 5.30pm and that it has subsequently been told by Licensing that the existing 10pm permission was issued in error.
The business says this could result in its permitted hours being reduced from 10pm to 5.30pm.
The Black Dog says it is not aware of any history of complaints relating to its outside seating operating under the existing 10pm permission.
Pub says barriers are about safety
The Black Dog says its outside area is surrounded by barriers which provide a clearly defined customer area that can be supervised by staff.
The pub argues that removing the barriers at 5.30pm would not necessarily mean customers stop using the area.
Instead, customers may continue to stand outside to smoke, wait for friends, socialise or get some fresh air, potentially leaving them within the street without a clearly defined area.
The business points out that 5.30pm is also when limited vehicle access begins on St Mary Street.
It says the request to retain the barriers until midnight was intended to maintain a managed customer area during the busy evening period.
Questions raised over Highways objection
The Black Dog says its renewal application remains under consultation and claims the Highways and Licensing objections were submitted before it had an opportunity to meet with officers on site to discuss the layout, measurements and possible safety measures.
The pub says it has asked Dorset Council a number of questions, including what regulation, policy or safety standard requires the existing 10pm hours to be reduced to 5.30pm.
It has also asked what measurements or safety assessment were used, what has changed since the existing licence was granted, and whether any complaints or safety incidents have been recorded relating to the outside area between 5.30pm and 10pm.
The business says it has not yet received answers to those questions.
It also claims it requested an opportunity to meet with Highways to discuss the location, measurements and safety concerns but was subsequently advised that the objection would remain unchanged.
Could other St Mary Street businesses be affected?
The pub believes the issue could extend beyond The Black Dog.
It points to the number of businesses with outside tables, chairs and barriers along St Mary Street and is asking whether the same interpretation of the rules will be applied to other pavement licences when they come up for renewal.
The business is also seeking clarification on what minimum clearance is required, where the relevant standard is published and whether the same measurements and safety criteria will be applied consistently along the street.
Concerns over Weymouth town centre
The Black Dog says the issue comes at a difficult time for Weymouth town centre, with vacant shops and commercial units already visible across the area.
The pub argues that hospitality businesses play an important role in attracting people into the town centre after shops close, while outside seating can contribute to the evening atmosphere and support local employment.
The business stresses that it is not opposed to reasonable safety requirements and says it wants an evidence-based process, consistent treatment and the opportunity to work with the council on practical solutions.
The pub has now appealed to residents, visitors and other businesses to share their views on the future of outside seating in St Mary Street.
Consultation remains ongoing
The Black Dog says its application is still under consultation and is encouraging members of the public to submit their views to Dorset Council Licensing.
The business has provided the following email address for those wishing to formally contact Licensing:
licensing@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk
The Black Dog is located at 3 St Mary Street, Weymouth.
Dorset Council has not provided a response to the claims contained in the pub’s statement within the information supplied to Tide News.
Tide News has contacted Dorset Council for clarification on the licensing position and the reasons behind the Highways objection.
