Concerns raised over plans for 'unmanned' bar in middle of The Renaissance Club golf course

Concerns have been raised over plans to have an ‘unmanned’ bar in the middle of the golf course hosting this year’s Scottish Open.

The Renaissance Club, in North Berwick, has applied to extend its licensing hours from 9am to allow it to serve alcohol with its breakfast service to golfers.

However the addition of a halfway house between the 10th and 11th hole on the course to its licence has sparked concern from East Lothian Council’s trading standards officer.

In a report due to go before the licensing board next week the officer says the on course bar will not be staffed in the evenings or during winter months with members able to let themselves in and an ‘honesty system’ in place.

The officer says the proposal conflict with licensing conditions which require alcohol sales to be authorised by a designated person to ensure age verification.

She says: “If the halfway house is unstaffed this authorisation by a responsible person does not appear to be taking place. Members and guests will be able to authorise their own sales.

“In the absence of a staff member there can’t be any intervention to refuse a sale, for example if a person is intoxicated or under 18.”

The club proposes to allow access to the halfway house when it is unstaffed with the use of an entry code given to members who are playing the course which will allow then to access a range of cans of alcohol including Guinness, cider and premixed drinks.

The trading standards officer says as an alternative they have suggested the club sells alcohol from its pro shop to players before they head out onto the course who can drink it when they reach the halfway house.

They say: “In my opinion the proposed unstaffed operation of the halfway house does not uphold the objectives (of the board) in particular protecting children and young people from harm and preventing crime and disorder.

“This is a supply of alcohol that is available to numerous members, guests and potentially others should the code be given out.

“To protecting the licensing objectives and be compliant with the premises licence conditions I believe it needs to be regulated by a staff member at all times when alcohol is available.”

The Renaissance Club will host the Scottish Open over three days in July this year. The application for the licence will be heard by the board next week.