Noise nuisance fears over move to extend drinking time at bar

At Hunters Bar, residents are objecting against plans to extend the opening hours of an establishment formerly known as the Mini Bar, while in Burncross neighbours are opposing an application for an alcohol licence from a newsagents.

Mini Bar, in Junction Road, was closed by chef Cary Brown last summer, less than a year after opening.

Mr Brown, who opened Mini Bar to serve British tapas-style dishes, said after the closure that he intended to concentrate instead on his other restaurant, London Club, in Sheffield city centre.

Now, an application has been submitted by Eckington-based accountancy firm Pickford, Rhodes, Clark, to reopen the bar and restaurant until 1am on Mondays and Tuesdays, until 1.30am on Sundays and until 3am from Wednesday to Saturday.

The plans have been met with opposition from both neighbours and Sheffield Council’s environmental health department, who say the venture could cause excessive noise in a residential area.

Environmental health officer Jonathan Round said: “In particular, I am concerned that residents in close proximity will potentially be affected by excessive noise by noise transmission from regulated entertainment in the premises, from noise breakout through the building and from patrons outside the premises.”

One objection has come from the Botanical Area Community Association, which says that members “wish to see all bars and restaurants close by 11.30pm at the latest.”

A letter to Sheffield Council from the association says: “We already experience noise, but the particular point is that after midnight it is a nuisance.

“People leaving at any time create noise, but after later drinking this is worse and constitutes noise nuisance.

“We are also concerned that any late permission being granted runs the risk of similar applications from other premises, and further stress to residents who are trying to prevent this and not have their quality of life compromised.”

Janet Andrews, secretary of the Endcliffe Corner Community Association, said: “Mini Bar only has consent to be a restaurant, but we believe that few people would be eating meals at such a late hour. It is more likely that Mini Bar would operate as a bar.

“Crowds of people would be coming and going and congregating outside.”

Sheffield Council’s licensing board will make a decision on the application at a meeting on Thursday, August 11.

At the same meeting, members will also decide whether an alcohol licence should be granted for the UK News and Booze shop in Burncross Road, Chapeltown.

Ranjit Kaur has applied for a licence to sell alcohol from 6am to 10pm each day – a move which has met with anger from locals.

One objector wrote to Sheffield Council: “In my view, there is already enough opportunity in the area for both the responsible and irresponsible drinker to purchase their alcohol.

“311 Burncross Road is a small retail premises flanked on both sides by mainly residential buildings.

“It previously served as a newsagent for the local community, selling sweets, tobacco and soft drinks, which was more in keeping with the locality than the present name News and Booze suggests.”

Another opponent said: “I am sure that if this licence was to be granted it would only add to the problem of underage drinking and a general disturbance for the people that live adjacent to the said premises.”

Both letters of objection and petitions have been submitted to Sheffield Council in opposition to Mr Kaur’s licence application.

Thursdays’s licensing board meeting will begin at 10am at Sheffield Town Hall.