It’s all hands on deck at Castlepoint Hotel - The Whakataki in preparation for the taps to start flowing again after a six-month hiatus.
By Emily Ireland for Local Democracy Reporting
The pub’s liquor licenses have been granted following a District Licensing Committee hearing last week.
The pub had been dry since the start of the year, after losing its licences under previous operators due to repeated breaches of alcohol regulations.
Current operators Amanda Aitken and Celeste Blakesley said they were “pleased a decision has finally been made” following a lengthy application process which began at the end of March.
They said they were committed to safely serving the community and visitors in the area and were looking forward to welcoming everyone back this weekend.
The licensing decision, which was published on the Masterton District Council website this week, said the licensing committee was satisfied the applicants had satisified all relevant criteria as set out in the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act.
It imposed some conditions: patrons must not be allowed to become intoxicated, and no alcohol was to be sold or supplied to an intoxicated patron.
Any intoxicated patron must be safely removed from the premises or taken to a place of safety on the premises.
Also, a certificated acting or temporary manager must be on duty at all times when the premises were open for the sale and supply of alcohol, and their full name must be on a sign prominently displayed in the premises.
Aitken and Blakesley fronted up to an almost two-and-a-half-hour-long hearing on applications for on and off-licences for the pub last Tuesday.
The committee was chaired by Robyn Cherry-Campbell, and included members Campbell Gillam and Brian Deller.
They asked Aitken and Blakesley questions ranging from the pub’s expected staffing levels and training, their own experience running a business, management of duty managers, and how they planned to deal with belligerent and intoxicated punters.
A central concern of the committee was the pub’s relative remoteness. It was about 60km east of Masterton, meaning it could take time to get help if a problem arose.
Aitken and Blakesley intended to run shorter hours at the pub until October, then extended hours in summer.
– LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
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