Jubilee Camping in Damerham, near the New Forest, has been granted a premises licence by the New Forest District Council licensing sub-committee, allowing it to serve alcohol and show films year-round.
The decision follows a hearing addressing the campsite’s application for greater operational flexibility and formal permissions beyond the scope of temporary event notices previously used.
The premises licence permits alcohol sales from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week, and allows the site to host up to 12 outdoor film screenings annually with up to 499 attendees.
The applicant, David Francis Burrough of Jubilee Camping, had been selling alcohol through a small bar on the farm using temporary permissions.
The council report noted the operator sought a more consistent framework that would allow them to adapt service based on fluctuating camping demand, particularly as it is influenced by weather conditions.
“The committee heard that [the Burroughs] wanted more flexibility to operate the bar in response to camping demand, which was very weather dependent,” the report stated.
It also mentioned that only two events involving external participants—a school and a charity—had been organized so far this year.
Objections were raised by Peter Brooks of Manor Farm House on behalf of three nearby households. Concerns centered around noise levels, light pollution affecting the night sky, and allegations of past late-night disturbances.
However, council records show that since June 2018, the campsite had operated under 47 temporary event notices, with only three formal noise complaints recorded—in 2018, 2020, and 2021. None of these resulted in enforcement action after investigations by Environmental Health.
According to the Daily Echo, the licensing sub-committee concluded that issuing a premises licence would offer more robust oversight compared to temporary permissions.
In the report, the licensing authority could act on behalf of local people to call the licence in for review if the licence was breached. This provision is intended to safeguard community interests while supporting responsible operations.
For business owners in the outdoor hospitality sector, this case illustrates how moving from temporary event notices to a full premises licence can provide more consistent service opportunities while still complying with community and regulatory expectations.
It also highlights the potential for an enhanced legal structure to balance commercial goals with neighbour relations and operational transparency.