Axe-throwing club wants to start selling ALCOHOL to customers

An axe-throwing club wants to start selling alcohol to customers, but police have warned it could risk the safety of staff and other participants.

The venue called The Hilt, which is based in York and brands itself as an ‘immersive Viking axe-throwing experience’, is currently only able to serve alcohol to those who have finished their contests.

But they are now calling on councillors to relax the rules so customers can drink and throw axes at the same time.

Owners want the sale of pre-purchased drinks, limited to two per customer but not including spirits, to be allowed.

They say there has not been a single accident since they opened in September 2019, six months before the first national lockdown.

The venue called The Hilt, which is based in York and brands itself as an ‘immersive Viking axe-throwing experience’, is currently only able to serve alcohol to those who have finished their contests

Bosses also claim clubs in other parts of the country are already allowing axe-throwers to drink, though licencing officials say that is not true.

Sgt Jackie Booth, of North Yorkshire Police, said the application was ‘littered with inconsistencies’.

She said there was only one other axe-throwing venue in the county – located some distance away in Craven – and it was subject to the same alcohol restrictions.

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‘Allowing alcohol before and during the activity sessions could increase the risk of harm to staff, and other customers,’ she said.

But they are now calling on councillors to relax the rules so customers can drink and throw axes at the same time

The Hilt’s licensing application states: ‘The Hilt is one of York’s premier attractions, but axe-throwing venues are becoming more and more common, and some of our competitors have recently managed to obtain a crucial edge over us.

‘Potential customers can go to our competitors to throw axes, and they can have a drink while they do it.

‘We are very keen not to be left behind in this increasingly competitive space, and we have carefully considered how this application might be implemented in the safest and most responsible way possible.’

Owners want the sale of pre-purchased drinks, limited to two per customer but not including spirits, to be allowed

At the venue, all throwers are enclosed in a cage to ensure safety. There are also partitions to separate throwers from spectators and coaches monitor proceedings 

A council environmental health officer said: ‘In my opinion consuming alcohol whilst throwing axes is a risk to the public.’

Councillors on the licensing sub-committee will consider the application on May 16.

At the venue, all throwers are enclosed in a cage to ensure safety. There are also partitions to separate throwers from spectators and coaches monitor proceedings.