Gloucester Licensing Board Approves Seasonal Renewals for Dozens of City Establishments

GLOUCESTER — March 24, 2026 — Gloucester Licensing Board renews more than a dozen seasonal licenses and previews a new online permitting system. The board, chaired by Melissa Prince with member John Leveron and Building Commissioner Rob McCary present, voted unanimously Tuesday to approve five seasonal package store renewals, 13 common victual renewals, and individual seasonal alcohol, entertainment, and lodging renewals for 51 Rocky Neck, Yellow on the Water, Rocky Neck Lobster Company's The Lobster, Lobsterland Restaurant, Castle Manor Inn, Talese, and Annisquam Yacht Club, among others. The renewal of Ocean House Hotel at Bass Rocks was continued to April 14 pending inspections. The board also directed the holder of the idle Oliver's Harbor liquor license to return at the May 12 meeting with a filed transaction or face further scrutiny, noting that "Gloucester is not happy when licenses are not being used." In its final item, staff demonstrated a new OpenGov online portal that will move lodging and BYOB license applications off paper, with automatic date-and-time stamps on all submissions and a police-department review step built into BYOB approvals.