Padel Club given license to serve drink despite concerns over "increase in drunks"

Tuesday 26 September 2023

The Island Padel Club has been granted permission to serve alcohol in its clubhouse, despite objections from neighbours which described the sport as "insanely noisy" and raised concerns about the "increase in drunks".

The licence was given to the St. Clement sports club during a Licensing Assembly hearing in the Royal Court last week.

The Court heard that a Parish Assembly in St. Clement had voted in favour of the application by 38 votes to 17.

Advocate Nuno Santos-Costa, representing Island Padel, said: "Every other sports club has these kinds of facilities.

"Members are asking why they don’t."

He said the area where drink would be served would close at 20:00, so would not add to the noise emanating from the premises.

He added that padel tennis was less noisy than conventional tennis.

But some residents disagreed, with Cordelia Miller saying: "Padel tennis is noisier. I can hear them outside my bedroom. You can hear it in your garden.

"The concerns are that there would be more footfall and increased noise."

Neighbour Axel Staal added: "Padel tennis is insanely noisy. It sounds like gunfire sometimes.

"It will be another place for stag dos and there will be an increase in drunks.

"We’ve got a baby due in June and we don’t know what to do."

Deputy Bailiff Robert MacRae said Jurats had taken on board the concerns about noise but had on balance decided to grant the licence with certain conditions.

The club will only be allowed to serve wine, beer or cider for consumption inside.

A maximum of 20 people will be allowed in the area at any one time, including five staff.

The club will only be allowed to open from 15:00-20:00 on weekdays, and from 12:00-20:00 at weekends or on public holidays.

Disposal of rubbish and bottles must take place during opening hours to reduce additional noise.

Jurats Jane Ronge, Elizabeth Dulake, Gareth Hughes, Mike Berry and Mike Entwistle were sitting.