A NORTH Wales bunkhouse and inn where the future King once stayed is being allowed to extend its licensing hours for a fundraiser.
The event aims to support the use of the building as a community hub, with an aim to support young people, including those from refugee and migrant backgrounds.
Prince William once stayed at the 450-year-old Braich Goch, reportedly taking a top bunk during a stay at the historic building during his RAF days.
It is understood the building was then used as a base for mountain training in Eryri – and the room he stayed in was previously marked with a plaque.
Now under new owners since 2020, the venue near Machynlleth has been granted an application to extend its hours of licensable activities for a fundraiser on September 22, 2023.
An evening of music and food, featuring the group Iceni Roots, described as a “reggae-dancehall-jungle fusion” band is being held to raise money to upgrade the building which is part of the Ann Matthews Trust.
Braich Goch provides a range of activities, including bunkhouse stays and venue hire, but also “residential and sanctuary experiences,” as well as helping and supporting young people, including those from refugee and migrant backgrounds.
It also provides a community hub hosting a range of educational activities from gardening and cooking sessions, arts and music, to Welsh classes and events for farmers.
A temporary event notice application was submitted to Gwynedd Council by Maria De La Pava Catano.
The application was discussed by the council’s licensing sub-committee on Wednesday, September 13.
The request included use of the indoor bar area connected to a bunkhouse, to sell alcohol and host live music until 11pm, and host a DJ until 2am, and to provide licensed activities for a maximum of 100 people.
But, a central licensing sub-committee report had noted an objection received from the public protection enforcement officer.
The council report stated that noise complaints over music had been received in May 2022, when the venue had hosted a late night music event “without the authorisation” of a temporary event notice to extend hours.
It noted, in the latest application, objections had been received, and the latest application was referred to the committee for a decision.
The council had offered 30 minutes extra on its existing licence as a “compromise”.
An existing premises licence had been granted by the same committee in 2019, and had allowed the premises to sell alcohol with permission for music indoors until 10.30pm on Monday to Thursday, midnight on Friday and Saturday and 10pm on Sunday.
The objection submitted by the enforcement officer had been “due to concern” that the event would “undermine” licensing objectives regarding “the prevention of public nuisance”.
Officers had received two complaints over “a noise disturbance caused by loud music in May 2022 until 1.30am,” outside of the hours permitted under the licence, the report stated.
The council report said: “The terminal hour for regulated entertainment is 2am on the application and that the public protection service was willing to offer a compromise of allowing the termination of regulated entertainment at 12.30am – half an hour later than the current licence.”
A Cyngor Gwynedd spokesperson said: “During the Gwynedd Central Licencing Sub Committee meeting held on (Wednesday, September 13), an application to extend the hours of licensable activities at Braich Goch Inn, Corris for a charity fundraising event on September 22, 2023 was granted.
“Committee members however imposed a condition that licensable activities finish at 12.30am, instead of the 2am proposed, to reduce the possibility of any noise impact on the residents of nearby properties.”
They added that the applicant contacted officers in the days before the meeting and verbally agreed to the compromise, and during the meeting, the applicant spoke to the committee members and the application was formally permitted on the condition that licensable activities finish at 12.30am.
Maria De La Pava, said: “We asked for 2am but they suggested 12.30am instead, so not to cause any disturbance locally, we are in a valley and the sound can travel.
“We hope people will come along and support the evening of great music and food.
“Money raised will help improve Braich Goch, it’s a very old building and needs some work, we have had issues with the roof.
“We want to provide a secure and warm environment to support people, but one focus of our work is with marginalised communities.
“We provide respite and education and other activities, particularly for young people, some come from refugee and migrant backgrounds, or communities from all over the UK.
“We also provide a community hub for local people with all sorts of of programmes and events.
“We have set up everything from Welsh classes, to farming panels, singing lessons, films nights, ecology, art, gardening and food growing, as well as our cross cultural events.”
