A SELF-CHECK-IN hotel and Italian restaurant could be barred from selling alcohol after failing to pay its licensing fees in time.
The Folly Hotel, North Berwick, and Tranent’s Giancarlo's are among licence holders which have been ordered to appear before East Lothian Council's licensing board after missing the deadline for the annual payments.
Concerns have been raised about The Folly Hotel by the board’s licensing standards officer after it was revealed that it had introduced lock boxes so guests could let themselves in.
A report due to go before next week’s board meeting says that the officer hand-delivered a reminder letter to the hotel after it failed to make its annual payments.
It says: “The premises were closed and the letter was posted through the door. There was a notice on the door. The sign detailed that the hotel was using a self-check-in due to a staff shortage.
“It directs guests to a side door with six lock boxes.
"It appears that the hotel is unmanned and guests reside there without staff. This is concerning in relation to all the licensing objectives and the control the licence holder has over the operations and behaviour at a licensed premises.”
Booking.com describes The Folly Hotel as a “self-check-in room-only property”.
The board will also hear that Giancarlo’s Italian restaurant in Tranent, which has also failed to pay its licence fees in time, has been closed since May.
Also facing action for not paying their fees ahead of the October 1 deadline are Dragon Way in Prestonpans and Stodola on Musselburgh High Street.
The licensing standards officer notes in reports that Stodola appears to have been stripped of equipment and closed, while Dragon Way is operating a takeaway without alcohol sales.
Failure to keep up the annual fees could see the board issue warnings or revoke alcohol licences.
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