By Lesley Walsh
AN AWARD winning Donaghadee hospitality venue has had to cancel a music gig after the council called a halt to it over licensing laws.
Saints and Sinners’ owners Jason and Karen Carnduff paid almost £1,000 to the UK’s regulatory body for vetting and licensing, but just 12 days before the event was due to go ahead, the council blocked the event.
Any attempts to secure the necessary entertainment licence would take two months to come through, so it comes too late for the music night scheduled for this Saturday evening.
The Carnduffs have been left exasperated, wondering why the council failed to inform them of the rules barring the event during their previous communications with officials.
They are now in the process of issuing refunds to disappointed music lovers who they say were keen to come out to show their support for the local business and music talent.
The Carnduffs confirmed the event had to be cancelled in an online social media post.
“Unfortunately, we got a rather unpleasant letter this morning from Ards and North Down Council, telling us that despite us paying nearly £1,000 to PPLRS for vetting and licensing and previous phone calls to the council, we don’t have the legal right to use our premises as a music area,” they said.
“But here’s where it gets even worse. If we had a guitarist playing live music while open during the day, while everyone was having their food, no problem. If we organised a festival named after the sea, and had music outside our shop, no problem. But having music inside the shop, as a dedicated music night to support and celebrate local artists. Nope.”
They said they were ‘upset and disappointed’ and want to know ‘why didn’t they [the council] tell us that when we called and asked about it in November 2025?’
“As a local business, all we’re trying to do is create a livelihood for ourselves and our team and help the other local businesses and people out too, because we truly believe and have seen that when one small business flourishes, many do. But the council have other ideas.”
The business owners thanked councillor Mark Brooks for attempting to intervene, and who said he did not believe the Carnduffs were doing anything to avoid the necessary licence.
A council spokeswoman said it is an offence to provide entertainment without a licence under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Northern Ireland) Order 1985.
“The council has a statutory duty to ensure compliance with this legislation and takes a proactive approach by advising premises that appear to be advertising entertainment without a licence. This provides premises owners with an opportunity to take the necessary steps to avoid breaching the legislation and offers guidance on how to apply for a licence.”
It added officers were available to ‘support any premises wishing to apply and will endeavour to process applications as quickly as possible’.
