The Nanaimo Theatre Group wants to serve patrons a "refreshing alcoholic beverage” at all performances, and avoid the hassles associated with special event permits.
The Bailey Studio theatre on Rosstown Road, operated by NTG, typically hosts 16 theatre performances throughout the year. The group has operated the facility for more than 60 years and liquor service is not offered unless a special event permit is obtained from the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch.
David Bourne, a director-at-large with the theatre group, is looking to simplify the process. On Monday, July 29, Bourne went before Nanaimo city council to emphasize that the group's only focus is to provide live entertainment.
"We are not a nightclub or a saloon or a cabaret, even though our stage has been all of those things," he said. "During performances we like to provide our patrons with the opportunity to enjoy a refreshing alcoholic beverage.”
However, he indicated the group's current system of needing a special event permit was not a good fit, since it was designed for one-off events such as weddings or Christmas parties. The permit does not allow alcohol to be kept on site between events, which requires old stock be returned or disposed of and brand new stock to be purchased every time. The permits also only allow a maximum of 24 days of use a year before applications are flagged for mandatory review.
“This means that almost two-thirds of our events are not guaranteed to have alcohol sales. Meaning we are unable to give a consistent experience to our patrons,” the director said.
According to the staff report, the public will have an opportunity to comment on the liquor licence application at an upcoming public meeting, and a summary of comments and evaluation of community impacts will be summarized and attached to a future report to council.
