Hull Restaurant Granted Liquor License Despite School Proximity Concerns

Shipwreck'd receives approval for seasonal alcohol sales with modified hours after debate over potential impacts on educational activities

HULL, MA - October 16 - A local restaurant near Hull High School has been granted a seasonal liquor license following a contentious debate at the Hull Select Board meeting Tuesday night.

PF Hospitality, Inc., doing business as Shipwreck’d, received approval for alcohol sales with modified hours after discussions centered on the establishment's proximity to the school and potential impacts on educational activities.

The board voted 2-1 to approve the license, with Chairman Irwin Nesoff opposing the motion due to concerns about setting a precedent for alcohol sales near schools.

"My concern is that it's so close to the school and setting a precedent," Nesoff said. "I still support the 3 o'clock sales."

The approved hours for alcohol sales are Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Friday, 11 a.m. to midnight; Saturday, 8 a.m. to midnight; and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.

These hours represent a compromise between the applicant's original request and recommendations from the school committee, which had suggested restricting alcohol sales until after school hours.

Lillian Parker, manager of Shipwreck’d, agreed to the modified hours after initially requesting an 8 a.m. start time for weekday alcohol sales.

"I have a legal obligation as a license holder. There's a law that I need to abide by," Parker said, addressing concerns about responsible alcohol service near the school.

The board also approved an entertainment license for Shipwreck’d, allowing for background music via a single speaker both indoors and outdoors. Parker emphasized there would be no live music or karaoke events.

Some residents expressed concerns about potential noise issues, particularly during summer months when many Pemberton Point homes are occupied.

Beverly Carlin, a resident of 30 Channel Street, said, "The concern is on the outside stuff. You want to keep it inside, have at it. I don't know what the decibel level would be that would be amenable for you to keep it out there where I'm eating dinner and I'm enjoying it versus being at my house going, 'Oh, my God, I just want to go to sleep.'"

Board member Brian McCarthy supported the compromise, stating, "I think Lillian made a good faith compromise to try to get this all settled tonight. And, you know, in my business, you negotiate. And I thought, you know, nobody leaves the table 100% happy."

The decision comes as Shipwreck’d aims to establish itself as a cornerstone business in what some board members described as an "underachieving part of town."

In other business, Town Manager Jennifer Constable announced that Hull's proposal for the MBTA Communities Act has received approval from the state's Housing and Livable Communities agency.

"The state has also approved the town's MBTA Communities 3A proposal, and this was in its first round of approval," Constable said.

The plan aims to increase housing options near public transportation, though specific details were not discussed during the meeting.

Constable also reported that the town was awarded a $152,805 grant from the Office of Coastal Zone Management for their Coastal Resilience Grant Program. The funds will be used to advance the design of facility improvements to address flooding at the DPW barn and Hull Municipal Light Plant.

The Nantasket Avenue seawall project is progressing, with water main installation expected to be completed by next week and concrete pouring potentially beginning within the next two weeks.