'Open all hours’ objection to plan to turn city working men's club into pub
An objection has been lodged to proposals to operate a working men’s club in Wakefield as a pub.
An application has been submitted to Wakefield Council for a new premises licence at Alverthorpe Working Men’s Club, on Flanshaw Lane.
A document said the original club was “changing to a public house.”
The applicant has requested permission to serve alcohol on the premises from noon to 11pm daily.
A council licensing sub-committee will consider the application after a resident raised concerns about children being allowed to remain on the premises after 9pm.
They said: “Up until October 2025, the club was run by the committee. The rule was that under 18s could only be in the club until 9pm.
“At present, the applicant states that children are welcome any time, providing that they are supervised, during all opening times.
“This ‘open all hours’ approach, in my opinion, does not promote the objective of protecting children from harm.”
The application document said children would have to be accompanied by an adult at all times.
It also said staff were trained in proof-of-age sales, adding: “Signs shall be provided within the premises informing customers that sales shall not be made to persons under the age of 18 and that identification may be required.”
The objector also said: “I have considerable concerns regarding protecting children from harm if the person or person responsible for their welfare is affected by alcohol.
“Having children leave the club premises has never been a problem in the past and this appears to be common practice in most other licensed premises, including pubs and other work men’s club.
“In my opinion, having a condition stating that children must leave the premises by 9pm in not unreasonable and a condition should be attached to the licence.”
Councillors will consider the application at a hearing at Wakefield Town Hall on March 4.