The first in a series of Coquitlam pubs asking to serve booze longer got a frosty reception this week from city council.
At Monday's meeting, council canned a bid by Micky's Public House (formerly the Two Parrots Pub) to increase its seating capacity and extend the hours it's permitted to serve alcohol.
Currently, the pub can pour from 10 a.m. to midnight Monday to Thursday, 10 to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m. to midnight Sunday.
But Micky's is asking to change its liquor primary licence to serve drinks from 9 to 1:30 a.m. Monday to Thursday, and 9 to 2 a.m. Friday to Sunday.
The request garnered support from a neighbour following a public consultation last month, according to city documents.
But Mayor Richard Stewart and councillors Craig Hodge, Mae Reid and Selina Robinson said Micky's isn't in the best location to add more hours as it's not within walking distance of any residences and isn't well served by public transit. The pub is located on Golden Drive, off United Boulevard, roughly halfway between Cape Horn and the freeway entrance.
"It's not a neighbourhood pub," Hodge said. "It's a drive-by. It's in the parking lot of a gas station."
Opposing councillors also noted a comment from Coquitlam RCMP, which said it is concerned about increased drinking and driving; Micky's reps have indicated they will start a designated-driver program, according to city papers.
Coun. Terry O'Neill argued Micky's is in an industrial location and has been a pub for years while Coun. Brent Asmundson said impaired driving can happen anywhere, at any time - he noted he was once struck by a drunk driver who was leaving a neighbourhood pub at 10 p.m.
With councillors Neal Nicholson, Linda Reimer and Lou Sekora absent from the vote, the bid was defeated. Council's recommendation will be forwarded with the application to B.C.'s Liquor Control and Licensing Board for review.
Woody's Pub and the Townhall Public House (formerly the French Quarter Pub), both in Maillardville, have also applied for an increase in hours of liquor service.
