In April, Golden Age Tavern was the subject of an Invercargill District Licensing Committee hearing after police, the Medical Officer of Health and the licensing inspector opposed its licence application. Issues raised included poor staffing, no courtesy coach, a lack of systems and unidentifiable food in the freezer.
Committee chair Darren Ludlow acknowledged in a report that the issues raised by agencies were relevant and had merit.
"It is extremely concerning to us that these issues were all raised with [applicant Tony] Low at his last renewal and he at best has simply not got around to it or worst he has thumbed his nose at the act and the reporting agencies as well as this committee," Ludlow wrote.
"We will give Mr Low the benefit of doubt on this occasion but he should be left with a very clear impression such benefit will not occur again should this situation arise at the next renewal."
The report showed issues raised by alcohol harm prevention officer Sergeant Hayden McNaught and others were not new and had not been sorted despite promises they would.
Some of the concerns were addressed at the hearing, where Low received assistance from employee Rochelle Kellor and neighbouring restaurateur Hayley-Chanel Simeon.
The report said Kellor and Simeon were of "great assistance" to the committee as they considered the application. The pair had confirmed they were willing to help Low address the issues.
New licences mean Golden Age Tavern will be able to sell liquor every day of the week from 8am to 1am onsite and from 7am to 11pm at its bottle store. There is no provision for random site checks despite a request from delegated medical officer of health Stephanie Bekhuis-Pay for such visits.
The Invercargill District Licensing Committee consists of councillors Ludlow, Ria Bond and Andrea de Vries. The three members declared at the 29 April hearing that they knew Simeon but had not discussed the subject with her.
Low is one of five directors for Golden Age (2018) Ltd. He has indicated the tavern may soon be up for sale.
