Mount Arrowsmith Brewing in Parksville would like to modify its licence to allow liquor service until midnight.
Owner Matt Hill presented to Parksville council and said the brewery has experienced consistent growth in its seven years of operation and hopes to serve alcohol past the current cut off of 10 p.m.
“We recognize now the desire for more late night options and casual bites and beer in Parksville. A sentiment that’s been voiced by visitors and locals both,” Hill said during council’s March 4 meeting.
Hill added staying open later will allow special events opportunities such as hosting teams from the Parksville volleyball league and the men’s hockey league. With its current hours, the brewery tends to be closing right as those teams finish up their games, he said.
“We recognize we’re in an area, there’s residential properties around and I think over the last seven years that we’ve been open that we’ve shown that we can be good neighbours,” Hill said.
Although the application must be made for the entire lounge area, Hill said he does not intend to keep the outdoor boulevard patio area open past 10 p.m.
“We want to be respectful,” he said. “So after 10 p.m. we would be bringing everybody inside so that it wouldn’t be causing noise issues within the area.”
Although the application would permit the brewery to serve alcohol until midnight seven days a week, the intention is to operate later Thursdays through Saturdays mainly, Hill said, with exceptions such as a long weekend or St. Patrick’s Day.
READ MORE: Parksville brew-master recognized at World Beer Cup
Mount Arrowsmith Brewing will post signage outside its building to encourage input from the neighbourhood, as well as canvas opinions from patrons and provide the feedback to council, Hill said.
The city’s bylaw compliance department indicated no noise complaints have been made related to the business, according to a report by Blaine Russell, director of community planning and building.
Restaurants, including pubs, with a food-primary liquor licence are allowed to serve liquor until midnight and are not required to obtain local government input on their provincial liquor licence.
Since Mount Arrowsmith Brewing’s liquor licence lounge area is considered an accessory use of its liquor manufacturing facility, it must receive permission to extend its hours.
Council voted unanimously to have city staff advertise an opportunity for public input in writing from people living nearby the brewery.
Council will consider public input before its final deliberations on the application, which will need to be approved by the province.
