Residents oppose longer hours for ‘noise nuisance’ bar in city

Players sports bar has had a temporary licence allowing it to open from 7.30am to 1.30am on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays immediately before bank holidays.

As this licence runs out on Tuesday, May 3, bosses have applied for the bar to open until 1.30am on a permanent basis.

However, objections have come both from neighbours and from Green Party ward councillor Jillian Creasy, who said that managers at Players “cannot control the behaviour of queuing patrons.”

Police have also submitted their own figures to Sheffield Council which show that, of the 410 crimes committed on West Street since April 1 2010, 60 of those – or 15 per cent – have occurred in Players.

Coun Creasy said: “I object to the permanent extension of weekend hours to 1.30am at Players.

“This is because of well-documented noise from people entering and leaving the bar.

“The bar has dealt with problems from noise break-out and claims to be well-managed. But it cannot control the behaviour of inebriated people queuing to get into it.

“Neither do the police have the resources to control what they consider to be ‘normal’ anti-social behaviour.

“I think it is unacceptable for working people to be woken in the early hours by rowdy behaviour, or to encounter vomit and other debris as they leave their apartment in the morning. This bar is too close to residential property to be allowed to open this late.”

One neighbour told Sheffield Council that Players had been “a constant source of anti-social behaviour since its birth” and added: “I cannot tell you how much heartache this bar has caused.

“Just because it has a West Street address, it has been allowed to open with a late licence. It seems that no-one has acknowledged that it is also on Westfield Terrace, a residential street, and no-one seems to take notice that the bar is queuing its patrons onto a residential area.”

Another neighbour said: “I have looked out of my window on many occasions, out of concern regarding the shouting, only to see extremely intoxicated individuals being carried out of the bar by friends, or passing out and vomiting on Westfield Terrace.

“Had I known that I would be woken up by the patrons of Players bar several times a week, I certainly would not have moved into the Royal Plaza apartments.”

Others, however, are backing Players’ application.

A spokesman for South Yorkshire Police said they had no objection to the extended opening hours and added: “From a police licensing point of view, the premises are very popular and are well run.

“The management are very co-operative with the police, regularly attend the late bar licensing meetings and regularly seize ID from individuals they believe to be under the age of 18.”

Paul Robertson, director of nearby Sheffield City Lettings, said: “When the bar first opened I initially had concerns. I am pleased to say these concerns have proved unfounded.

“I believe the bar to be one of the better-managed licensed premises in the area and I would have no concern with them continuing to trade these hours.”

City planners in Sheffield have also recommended that the application from Players is passed when it is considered by councillors at a meeting on Tuesday, May 3.

Their report to councillors says: “It is considered that an additional hour of operation is unlikely to generate increased levels of noise and disturbance, and as such, residents of City Plaza will not be adversely affected beyond what they already experience on weekend nights.

“Street noise on West Street is already very high on Fridays and Saturdays and is certainly not all attributable to Players bar.”