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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
National
Liam Thorp

Lark Lane venue's plans spark row

A Lark Lane venue wants to change how it operates - but is facing opposition from local councillors.

Polidor is one of a number of restaurant-bar venues on the famous south Liverpool street owned by businessman Robert Gutmann.

Mr Gutmann also owns popular sites The Old School House, The Ink in the Well, The Bookbinder and Love and Rockets on Lark Lane.

Read more: Two petrol stations just a few miles apart with very different prices

Polidor opened in 2018 as a restaurant and bar, but with conditions that meant alcohol could only be served to customers sat at a table who were also ordering food.

Mr Gutmann has now applied to the city council to change the conditions of that original premises licence.

His application states that he wishes to amend the condition to read 'supply of alcohol will only be made to persons seated' - removing the requirement for people to be ordering food in order to be served alcohol.

But the move has been objected to by local Green Party councillors Anna Key and Stephanie Pitchers.

In her objection, Cllr Key said: "Lark Lane has benefited from a Special Cumulative Licensing Policy, which requires new premises to only serve drinks with food and to not encourage vertical drinking. This needs to remain in place to maintain a balance in this primarily residential area."

Cllr Pitchers added: "Drinking without meals can lead to drunk and disorderly behaviour a lot faster" and that "Drinking while standing would change Polidor from a bistro to a bar."

But Mr Gutmann, who said he was disappointed that the councillors didn't open a dialogue with him before submitting their objections, pointed out that the bar will still only be using table service for all customers.

He said: "Polidor is currently a bistro that operates with table service and we don't want to change that.

"We have asked to slightly amend the licence so that people can come in after perhaps eating elsewhere for a cocktail. This would be within our existing hours and as I say, served at tables.

"We are not looking at 'vertical drinking' and this is not a plan to turn Polidor into some sort of dive bar that you might see in the city centre."

He added: "I'm a little bit disappointed that the councillors, who I have spoken with before, did not get in touch to discuss their concerns with me before submitting their objections and I would encourage them to make contact if they so require."

The application for the variation to Polidor's licence will be heard by the council's Licensing and Gambling Sub-Committee on Wednesday March 2.

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