Hampden bar granted license despite complaint from resident over urinating football fans

A Glasgow resident is forced to endure a view of men urinating outside her kitchen window near a pub, a licensing meeting heard.

Mrs Newman talked about the ordeal as she objected to the granting of a variation of a premises licence for the Beechwood pub near Hampden Park.

The bar operators want to permanently be allowed to open their beer garden during match days or other events at Hampden and to sell alcohol for an extra hour on certain nights among other requests.

The Beechwood had already been granted the licensing variation for a six month trial period in November 2019 subject to certain conditions, including that the outdoor drinking area couldn’t be used when Rangers faced Celtic at Hampden Park.

But the Glasgow licensing board meeting earlier this month heard the trial could not be evaluated properly because of the pandemic.

Objector Mrs Newman told the Glasgow licensing board: “My problem is when the football is on at Hampden Park when they (fans) are all out. I was faced with a line of gentlemen relieving themselves. My kitchen window opens on to the car park at the side of the Beechwood, which was used as a toilet.

“How would you like your wife and daughter to have to stand and see that?

Board convenor Councillor Bill Butler said: “ No-one would – I take that point entirely.”

Another resident Josephine McAloon called for the trial period to be extended at the Ardmay Crescent premises.

Ms McAloon said: “I feel that we have not had long enough to see how this pans out. The Beechwood has been closed for quite some time. It has opened up over the last few weeks for parties and it has been noisy in Millport Avenue with people going up and down, taxis and people standing outside smoking. I think we should review it for a longer period so we can give a balanced view on what has been happening.”

Representing the Beechwood, solicitorAndrew Hunter, also called for an extension to the trial period.

Mr Hunter said: “The practical effect of Covid closures, interruptions and restrictions have meant that the premises have not been used for a 1am function. We have not had the opportunity to demonstrate we can do it properly.”

He suggested councillors continue the trial until September, which residents agreed with.

He said: “That would get the summer concert season at Hampden out of the way.”

He continued: “It should allow us to use the function suite until 1am with the stewarding in place. It will allow the neighbours to see how it operates.”

Commenting on the problem of people urinating in the pub area Councillor Butler asked: “ What are management going to do with regard to this completely unacceptable and illegal behaviour?”

Saying he wasn’t aware of the concern, Mr Hunter said if it is Scotland supporters who have been in the pub then it shouldn’t happen and they should be stopped by stewards and told to use the toilets. He pointed out if it is fans who have left Hampden and aren’t pub customers then it is a police matter.

Councillor Butler said the management would have to try and avoid that situation.

The variation of the premises licence was granted for six months again subject to conditions. Police Scotland and the council’s licensing standards team are to monitor the situation.