A SHOWDOWN meeting will be held to determine whether Colchester’s new mini-golf course will be allowed to serve alcohol.

Putt in the Park, which is set to open its first course outside London in Castle Park this month, has applied for a premises licence to serve alcohol at the attraction after it opens in the coming month.

The licence would allow the business to sell booze between 8am and 9pm, or throughout the park’s opening hours if there are special events taking place.

It will also allow alcohol to be served on and off-site, although company bosses said there was no intention for people to take their alcohol away from the course.

The bid led to a number of complaints from teed-off residents and Colchester Civic Society about the conditions of the application.

Colchester Council has called a special licensing sub-committee meeting where a group of councillors will have the final say on the proposals.

A report to advise the sub-committee states the council’s licensing policy looks to encourage facilities which “cater to a wide range of age groups and uses”.

It adds: “Where relevant representations are made, premises that are considered to meet the criteria ‘what we aim to encourage’ will normally be given greater freedom to operate than premises that could be considered more likely to have a detrimental impact upon the licensing objectives, such as youth-oriented, alcohol-driven premises.

“Our aim is to promote an ‘inclusive’ evening and night time economy throughout the borough to ensure people of all ages can participate in and enjoy a range of activities.”

Officers have recommended a number of conditions be put in place if the application is granted.

No super-strength beer, lager of cider, meaning above 6.5 per cent alcohol by volume, should be served, staff training records should be kept and updated at least once a year and the Challenge 25 scheme must be used.

A comprehensive CCTV system should be installed covering all public areas, staff should supervise the outside area to prevent nuisance and the premises must close when the park closes.

The committee will hear from all sides of the argument at its meeting on Friday which starts at 10am.