The Clipper Inn in the News

New 24-hour bar is given go-ahead

THE first test of Plymouth's new cumulative impact licensing policy has eased fears the city is putting up a “closed for business sign”.

Clipper Inn boss Tam McPherson has been given the go-ahead by the city council licensing department for a new bar/restaurant in Bath Place, behind Union Street.

Mr McPherson has renovated his Union Street pub with the help of more than £100,000 in grants from Plymouth City Council. Now he is planning to convert a lock-up behind the Clipper into a 24-hour bar and restaurant.

The building is a former forge which Mr McPherson said was connected with the old Octagon Brewery.

The bar will be within the Union Street zone covered by the controversial new cumulative impact policy – otherwise known as saturation policy.

Mr McPherson said the police had indicated they would object to the licence, which would have triggered the tighter rules of the new policy.

However, last week they said they were happy for him to go ahead on the condition he has doormen in place after midnight, and after 3am customers must take a table.

Susan McDonald, Labour councillor for St Peter and the Waterfront, said: “I would suspect that this will be a test case.

“Some landlords have told me that there appear to be a lot of loopholes and gaps in the new policy.

“They are not sure whether premises that are restaurants, but allow you to drink without ordering food, are covered.”

Mr McPherson recently won an extension to his licence allowing him to convert the upstairs of the Clipper into a lounge bar with capacity for 52 customers.

The new upstairs bar will not open until later this year.

Mr McPherson said the new cumulative impact policy was likely to increase costs, adding: “You can represent yourself at the city council's licensing committee, and I've done that under the old regime.

“With the complex way it is now, the only way to do it is to have legal representation, or you'll be tied up in knots. It could cost £3,000 to make an application if it had to go through the licensing committee.”

The new developments at the Clipper are the result of around £110,000 of funding from the council under the Townscape Heritage Initiative.

That money, with matching finance from Mr McPherson, allowed him to give the building a facelift and to do the structural work to allow the upstairs bar to go ahead.

“We've always worked in partnership with the council and the police,” Mr McPherson said.

“But when they first started talking about a saturation policy I was quite worried because I had just spent all that money – the council's and my own – and the new policy could put the brakes on it.

Shiner is no problem for fundraising soccer star.

RANGERS legend Andy Goram didn't let a black eye stop him from helping to raise hundreds of pounds for wounded servicemen at a Plymouth pub.

The ex-Scottish international, now goalkeeping coach at first division Clyde, showed off his shiner at the Clipper , Union Street.

Accompanied by Clyde manager John Brown, another former Gers hero, they met fans during a live screening of a recent Old Firm encounter.

Mr Goram and Mr Brown, a defender who played 278 games for the Blues and collected six championship medals, took part in a 40-minute question-and-answer session.

There was also a hog roast and raffle.

The footballers' appearances drew dozens of people to the fundraiser and helped collect more than £625 for the British Limbless Ex-Service Men's Association (Blesma), which helps forces' personnel injured in conflicts in Northern Ireland , the Falklands, Iraq and Afghanistan .

Delighted Clipper boss Tom MacPherson, a Rangers fan, said: “The place was rammed; we had to lock the doors. It was brilliant.”

Andy, who played 184 games for Rangers and won 43 Scotland caps, made headlines in Scotland with speculation about how his facial injuries were caused.

The day before the ex-custodian's Plymouth appearance the Edinburgh Evening News said he “was reportedly snapped with a black eye and cuts to the face after failing to show up for an appearance on Setanta”.

Mr MacPherson was able to set the record straight, and revealed he was with the ex-keeper on a night out in Glasgow when the injuries happened.

He explained that Mr Goram had fallen down some steps.

The injury didn't stop him enjoying his trip to Plymouth, however.

“He and John Brown had a great time,” said Mr MacPherson , who is expecting a bumper turnout at the Clipper for screenings of Rangers UEFA Cup final appearance on May 14, and Scottish Cup final on May 24.

Blesma, now helping 54 amputees from the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, said the money raised in Plymouth would go to its “rehabilitation events”.

Inn Leads Clean-up Call

A plymouth pub is calling on businesses to help keep Union Street clean after sponsoring two rubbish bins outside its premises.

The Clipper Inn funded two council bins outside its Union Street base, following on the heels of a similar scheme in the Barbican.

Owner Tam Macpherson said he was pleased to do his bit - and called on other businesses to do the same.

"I was happy to sponsor rubbish bins outside my premises because I think it is only fair local businesses put something back into their communities," he said.

"But it always seems to be bars and clubs such as myself putting their hands in their pockets.

"It would be nice to see some of the takeaway businesses help pay towards facilities in the Union Street and Octagon area which also cater for the rubbish created by their businesses."

Plymouth City Councillor Steven Ricketts said: "It is good to see local businesses like the Clipper Inn put something back into their communities in this way.

"We are pleased the new bins are being used effectively."

View the Pub Owner

Tam macpherson, owner of The Clipper in Union Street, said 24-hour drinking is 'vital' for the city and needs to be backed up by a vibrant night-time economy with more restaurants open and public transport running after midnight.

He said: "I wouldn't want to see the Licensing Act scrapped. The city needs it.