Agenda item

Soho Bar, 2 Rotunda Terrace

Amelia Byres, Senior Licensing Officer, introduced the report as circulated with the agenda.

An application had been received from Mr Ansar Ali in respect of Soho Bar, 2 Rotunda Terrace, Montpellier Street, Cheltenham.  The applicant wishes to place 12 chairs and 6 tables on the pavement outside 2 Rotunda Terrace.

Amelia Byres advised Members this premises has an existing consent and as a result of an enforcement letter sent out to all premises in this area, the applicant was seeking an extension of the timings of the current consent.  The application sought consent for the following times:

Monday to Wednesday 10.00 – 00.30

Thursday to Saturday 10.00 – 01.30

Sunday 10.00 – 23.30

A local resident had objected to the application as detailed in point 4.2 of the report.

Members asked the following Officer questions:

• When asked, Amelia Byres confirmed the latest premises in this area with tables and chairs on the highway is The Montpellier Wine Bar at 00.30.

Mr Ali and Mr Mannan, directors of the businessattended the Committee and spoke in support of the application.

Mr Ali stated that the tables and chairs were left out later than their consent due to a misunderstanding.  At present customers were asked to move indoors at the end of the table and chair consent which caused problems as the premise is open until 01.30.

Mr Mannan explained that they wanted to bring the tables and chairs consent in line with their opening times on the premises licence.  The use of a barrier would also make it easier for crowd control.

This would stop problems occurring when customers are asked to move inside.  Customers could not be stopped from going outside after 01.00 to smoke. 

Members asked the following questions:

• A Member raised concern over the timings and felt 01.00 was too late for local residents and their sleep would be disturbed.
• Mr Mannan stated that he could not stop members of the public from going outside in the Montpellier area.  People come from all over the country to visit Cheltenham’s nightlife which is a prime position and the whole town benefited from this.  The hours requested should be bought in line with other premises in the area.
• When asked, Mr Ali confirmed the resident who had objected had not made direct contact with the premises.  Both shops next door to the premises had commented on how the premises had improved the area and how well it is managed.
• Members felt the timings should be brought in line with other premises in the area. 
• When asked, Amelia Byres confirmed the premises close by, Montpellier Wine Bar, had consent for tables and chairs use from 10.00 to 00.00 on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays, 10.00 to 00.30 on Friday and Saturdays and 11.00 to 11.00 on Sundays.

In summing up, Mr Mannan said the reason they had requested an extension of hours for the use of tables and chairs was not to encourage customers to stay outside but to enable customers to be kept within the boundary using barriers.  When the table and chairs boundary is taken away, alcohol is still served in the premises and they would not be able to control this boundary.  The sole intention of this application was to enable the crowds outside to be managed in a better way.

Councillor Whyborn proposed an amendment to the recommendation that the consent be granted with the same times as the Montpellier Wine Bar.  Councillor Thornton seconded this.

If granted the tables and chairs consent would be as follows:

Monday – Thursday 10.00 to 00.00

Friday – Saturday 10.00 to 00.30

Sunday – 11.00 to 11.00

Upon a vote it was unanimously

RESOLVED that the amended application be approved for a tables and chairs consent for the following times; on Monday – Thursday 10.00 to 00, Friday – Saturday 10.00 to 00.30 and Sunday 11.00 – 11.00 because Members feel the application is compatible with the current Street Scene Policy