Blayds Bar: City centre bar could be refused licence despite almost 50 customers in support of application

The council’s licensing team has objected to an application from Blayds Bar, citing concerns over alcohol-related crime and disorder in the area.

The premises, in Blayds Yard off Lower Briggate, held a licence which lapsed when the company running it was wound up.

Leeds City Council has received 47 letters of support for a new premises licence application from Duncan McCallum.

But it could be turned down because the bar is in a council-designated “red zone” which is subject to tough licensing rules.

In a letter to the applicant, the council said: “The area in which the premises sits is recognised as an area suffering from the density of licensed premises.

“These issues are generally related to the high levels of people, in drink, who use this area late at night.

“These problems cannot be attributed to one specific premises.”

The licence would allow alcohol sales until 1am, Monday to Saturday, and 12.30am on Sundays.

A separate public objection letter said people living nearby would suffer noise and mess caused by outside drinkers.

It said: “The tenants pay their council taxes and expect a peaceful life without such disturbance, and they have a human right to expect this.”

Supporters of the application said Blayds Bar was a safe and welcoming place for the city’s LGBTQ+ community.

One wrote: “In Leeds there are few places that offer the same sense of community as Blayds Bar.”

Another said: “It is a safe, welcoming venue for all gender identities and sexual orientations, and I haven’t witnessed or experienced any trouble in my many years of visiting Blayds.”

A licensing sub-committee will consider the application at a hearing on Tuesday (October 1).