15/06/2026
It’s with a heavy heart we have to announce the cancellation of our upcoming Music Night. Unfortunately, we got a rather unpleasant letter this morning from Ards North Down Council, telling us that despite us paying nearly £1000 to PPLRS for vetting and licensing AND previous phone calls to the council, we don’t have the legal right to use our premises as a music area.
But here’s where it gets even worse. If we had a guitarist in playing live music while open during the day, while everyone was having their food? No problem.
If we organised a festival named after the Sea, and had music outside our shop, no problem.
But having music inside the shop, as a dedicated music night to support and celebrate local artists? Nope.
We’re upset and disappointed in our local council, who told us after *yet another* call we made this morning, that yeah, we could apply for a licence…but it will take a minimum of 2 months to come in. Why didn’t they tell us that when we called and asked about it in November 2025? Good question.
As a local business, all we’re trying to do is create a livelihood for ourselves and our team and help the other local businesses and people out too - because we truly believe and have seen that when one small business flourishes, many do. But the council have other ideas. So much for .
A big shoutout to Brooks for trying to help us this morning and being just as enraged as we are but unfortunately we will have to cancel our music night until we can get this whole rigmarole sorted out.
If you’ve already purchased your ticket, please call in to see us or send us a Facebook message and we’ll get you refunded❤️🩹
