(UPDATE: July 27 @ 1 pm) – Kelowna City Council has agreed to forward an application to the Provincial Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch, recommending that the Packing House pub be allowed to create a permanent patio space.
The vote was unanimous during Tuesday's meeting and no members of the public were in opposition of this proposal.
One member of the public spoke in favour of the project, saying that not many pubs had enough patio space in Rutland.
If the LCRB approves the recommendations, the Packing House pub would expand their service area to allow for 60 additional seats.
Currently, the pub can seat about 140 people.
The proposed patio space would be located in a grassy area on the south side of the building.
City staff do not anticipate any changes in noise or impacts on the surrounding neighbourhood.
It usually takes the LCRB up to 45 days to respond to and issue liquor primary licenses.
(Original story: July 25 @ 2:30 pm) – A pub in Rutland is one step closer to being given the green light to expand their service area to allow for a new outdoor patio.
The owners of the Packing House pub, located on Finns Road, submitted an application to the city at the end of April to expand their outdoor patio space.
The proposed patio would sit about 60 people. Currently, the pub’s existing dining area can seat 120 people while the billiard room fits 20 people.
A temporary patio was set up in May 2021 on the south side of the building as a means to continue operating during the pandemic.
“During Covid, the ability to use the outdoor space was a fantastic asset for us, and we would absolutely love to keep it going,” writes Brandon Loughery, owner of the pub.
“With this opportunity to license our outside outdoor patio, it will enhance our customers’ enjoyment of the venue as well as allow us to operate on a more even playing field with the other businesses similar to ours in the city.”
In a report headed to city council on Tuesday, city staff explain that the potential for an increase in noise is minimal.
The impact on the surrounding neighbourhood is also expected to be minimal because much of the area is made up of industrial or agricultural properties.
No changes to business hours are being proposed in this application and city staff say the business would follow the city’s policies for outdoor patios.
Those policies lay out guidelines for last call for drinks, times to remove alcohol from the patio and times patrons must leave.
The pub’s hours of operation would be 11 am to 11 pm on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.
On Wednesday and Thursday the pub would be open until midnight and on Friday and Saturday the pub would close at 1 am.
City staff are recommending that Kelowna City Council direct them to forward the application to the Provincial Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch, who will give final approval to the request.
Kelowna City Council will make their decision during the evening meeting scheduled for Tuesday at 7 pm.
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