PEOPLE attending events at Shipbuilders' Square this summer and fall will be able to sip on beer and wine while taking in the festivities.
City of North Vancouver council decided May 27 to lift the strict provisions of its existing Special Occasion Licences Policy for Shipbuilders' Square and push back closing times for beer and wine garden hours at the venue from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.
The city says it has experienced an increase in the number of requests to book Shipbuilders' Square with interest in a beer and wine garden as part of the event. Last year, the Friday night market and the Concerts in the Square events featured 100-person beer and wine gardens. While these gardens were not hugely successful, according to a report from the city's community development department, they served as an additional source of revenue to offset event costs. No issues arose, the report states.
Coun. Linda Buchanan said she has heard positive feedback from patrons. "They really appreciate the opportunity to sit and enjoy concerts and be able to sit in the licensed area," she said.
Shipbuilders' Square opened to the public in 2009 and now serves as the location for a variety of community events including the Party at the Pier, LLBA Christmas Festival, Thursday and Friday night markets and car shows.
Council adopted its Special Occasion Licences Policy in 2007, before the square opened as a purpose-built entertainment venue. The current policy limits the number of licences that can be issued to each geographic area, individual and organization.
Coun. Craig Keating said amending the policy would be helpful, but expressed an interest in setting up more "tasteful" fencing around the drinking zones. "I went down to the Friday night market and sat and had a drink in the beer prison," he said, "because the blue fencing that surrounds the beer garden is somewhat depressing."
As it stands, the city will limit the capacity of beer and wine gardens to 100 people.
Mayor Darrell Mussatto said any large-scale events, such as the Caribbean Days Festival, would still need to come before council for licensing approval.
All applicants hoping to serve beer and wine at their events must also apply for the necessary licensing from the provincial Liquor Control and Licensing Branch and get police approval.
