A cafe which has received regular complaints since opening one year ago can keep its alcohol licence, Salford council has ruled – but with stricter conditions.
Hadfield's Cafe in Manchester Road, which opened in the Pendlebury area last September, has been allowed to keep its premises licence following a review.
However, it can no longer serve alcohol to customers in its outdoor seating area after 7pm – and indoors, last orders will be half an hour earlier at 9.15pm.
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It comes after neighbours complained about noise, parking and poor Covid compliance by the cafe – but its owners say many false claims were made.
Jenna Hadfield, who quit her career as a social worker before starting her own business, admitted last week that she has made some mistakes along the way.
But she told the licensing panel at a hearing on Thursday (October 28) of a 'malicious campaign' that one resident has mounted against her new cafe.
Responding to residents who told the council that their lives have been 'a living hell' since the cafe opened, she said: 'our lives have become a living hell'.
She said: "We have been subjected to an onslaught of harassment, stalking, numerous visits, videoing us, recording us and attempting to discredit us as a business.
"This is all down to one individual who has begun a malicious, manipulative agenda for reasons that only he will understand."
The resident who requested a review of the premises licence, could not attend the hearing last week because he tested positive for Covid.
Speaking after the meeting, he said the decision was 'disappointing' – but he chose not to respond to the comments made by Ms Hadfield at the meeting.
Greater Manchester Police recommended that the panel revokes the cafe's premises licence due to allegations made against co-owner Gareth Hadfield.
Three alleged incidents are being investigated by the police – but Coun Robin Garrido, who chaired the panel, said that this would not be taken into account.
A police spokesperson confirmed that all three cases are still open and are subject to an ongoing live investigation, but could not comment any further.
The licensing panel decided to amend the terms of the premises licence.
The cafe, which is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, must stop serving alcohol outside by 7pm and inside by 9.15pm, from Wednesday to Saturday – however, it can continue to serve alcohol both inside and out until 3.45pm on Sundays.
A condition has also been amended to prohibit noise from the movement of bins and rubbish, including emptying bottles and glasses in the outside bins, between 10.30pm and 8am, except on the contracted bin collection day.
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