Lack of late-night LGBTQ venue 'embarrassing' for York as police and council explain concerns
York’s lack of a late-night LGBTQ venue is embarrassing for the city, a council hearing has been told as concerns about extending the hours of one were set out.
Leo Charalambides, a lawyer acting for the Little J venue, said approving a bid to extend its opening hours to up to 4am would show York welcomed queer people.
But York Council solicitor Sandra Branigan said it would go against limits on venues in the area around the North Street venue to control late-night noise and public nuisance.
Paul Clark, of North Yorkshire Police, said they were sympathetic to the LGTBQ community’s desire for a late-night venue but they had concerns about the management of the venue.
It comes as councillors are considering whether to approve Little J’s application to extend its hours following the hearing on Thursday, November 13.
Approval would see the venue’s hours extended from its current 11pm closing time to 3am from Sunday to Wednesday and to 4am from Thursday to Saturday.
The venue’s application stated extended hours were needed to give LGBTQ people a place to socialise safely without being targeted and would bring it into line with mainstream venues.
A protest calling for councillors to back its bid to extend its hours was held in September.
But the council and police have objected due to the venue’s location in an area with several other late night bars, clubs and takeaways.
Little J, which has capacity for up to 120 people and hosts events catering to LGTBQ people, is thought to be the only venue of its kind in North Yorkshire.
The applicant’s lawyer Mr Charalambides told the licensing hearing: “For such a major city not to have a late-night queer venue must be terribly embarrassing.”
Ms Branigan said: “We appreciate this venue’s needed, but evidence shows there are already concerns about other premises in the area which are having an adverse effect on residents and businesses.”
Mr Clark said: “York is a victim of its own success, we get so many people visiting and when alcohol goes in brains go out and people change their attitude.”