A ritzy new restaurant due to open in Bristol next month will shut earlier than planned each night to appease residents' concerns about noise.
The Coppa Club, part of a restaurant chain with seven other venues in the UK, is set to open in Clifton Village in place of the old Pizza Express on Regent Street on July 14.
The owners originally applied for opening hours of 10am to 12.30am, including half an hour’s clearing-out time, seven days a week.
But Various Eateries Trading Ltd brought the final closing time forward to 11.30pm after concerns were raised by 18 residents and the Richmond Area Residents’ Association.
Coppa Club’s solicitor Thomas O’Maoileoin told a licensing hearing on Thursday (June 3) that alcohol sales and music would stop at 11pm and most customers would have left by 11.15pm.
But Michael Bunting, who lives in one of four flats directly above the premises, said he thought both the alcohol sales and music should stop earlier.
“I would prefer it if there was no music at all, because music has a habit of creeping outdoors," he said.
The meeting heard that an acoustic barrier would be installed between the Coppa Club and the flats above and residents would be able to phone a “hotline” if there were any issues.
The Coppa Club would have “background” music only and did not intend to host any live musicians, Mr O’Maoileoin said.
“We are not and never will be a nightclub,” he said. “We are very much a food-led restaurant establishment.”
He said the bar only seats six people and is mainly there to serve customers dining in the 207-cover restaurant.
The licensing committee permitted the Coppa Club to open at 10am every day, serve alcohol until 11pm, and remain open until 11.30pm.
Under conditions imposed with the licence, the club must prevent any “unreasonable" noise disturbance for the neighbours and must put its contact details on display so they can report any issues.
The Coppa Club will occupy two storeys at 2-10 Regent Street, with the ground floor home to the main restaurant, bar and lounge and the upper floor housing a dining area and workspace.
It will serve an all-day menu from breakfast through to dinner focused on European small plates, alongside sourdough pizzas, salads and more.
It is opening in place of Pizza Express, which closed in August 2020.
