Rotherham bar seeks to extend opening hours and outdoor seating

Wigtox Lounge on South Street in Rawmarsh first opened in September, 2025, with opening hours currently 10am to 11pm during the week, and until 1am on Friday and Saturday.

The venue is made up of a sports bar, and room to hold show films, live music and play music indoors.

The venue also functions as a cafe and ice cream parlour, as well as providing tanning and aesthetic treatments.

The owners are requesting to change their opening hours to 10am to 11.30pm Monday to Thursday, and 10am to 1.30am the following morning on Friday and Saturday.

They are also asking for council permission to have a seated drinking area at the front of the venue, have a larger rooftop drinking area, and add a small extension at the back on the existing flat roof.

The current application is now open for public comments until August 18, 2026.

Licensing and planning permissions for the venue must align before the business can proceed with these new business hours.

In 2025, venue owners faced opposition to open the bar at the site of the former Ryecroft and Rawmarsh Working Men’s Club, which closed in 2019.

Nine objections were received from residents and ward councillors, who had concerns about noise, disturbance, and anti-social behaviour.

However, 57 letters of support were received, endorsing the bar as a safe and well-managed space for the community, pointing to the plans for family-friendly events such as film screenings and live music.

The owners requested in April this year for permission to extend the opening hours and to add a rooftop terrace.

Seven objections and 93 letters of support were received.

Objectors expressed concerts of late-night noise, anti-social behaviour, and said they had heard arguing, shouting and loud music late at night.

However, supporters refuted these claims, pointing to the bar’s role in hosting family celebrations and funeral gatherings, with opportunities for community use of the rooftop terrace in the summer.

Councillors in the licensing sub-committee approved the application, with some time restrictions and excessive noise preventions to be installed.