A Withington bar has been prevented from opening until the early morning hours after police and residents raised concerns that it would make existing antisocial behaviour issues worse.
The Drawing Room had hoped to secure a licence to serve alcohol until 2am - and stay open until 2.30am - seven days a week from a unit on Wilmslow Road formerly occupied by A Curious Collection.
Described as a ‘burger and cocktail joint’, the owners told a Manchester licensing hearing that their venue would be food-led and the licence would make it a viable business.
But ‘exceptional circumstances’ need to be shown for new licences to be granted in Withington Village due to a large number of existing bars, pubs, off-licences and takeaways with late licences.
And licensing bosses felt the Drawing Room’s plans failed to satisfy the local policy, known as the Withington Stress Area, aimed at reducing levels of crime, disorder and public nuisance.
James Fennell, of the Liquid Art Group behind The Drawing Room, said the new business would struggle if it had to stick to the existing licence which calls for last orders at 11.30pm and closing time at midnight.
The hearing was told that the group’s other premises in West Didsbury, which has the same licence, is unable to retain customers who go elsewhere after midnight.
Mr Fennell added: “Where you’ve already got existing late-night premises serving food where you can go from early ‘til late, it’s very hard to compete against that if you’re only offering half of what they do.
“I think for any business to demonstrate an exceptional circumstance is always going to be difficult, but we’re coming with the idea of not just being a late-night premise.
“We’re going to be open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and through to the end of the night and the idea there is that we can contribute to the community.”
The meeting also heard that Southside Tacos, which occupies the unit next door to the premises on Wilmslow Road, is allowed to open until 2am Monday to Sunday.
However PC Alan Isherwood, of Greater Manchester Police, said the ‘run of the mill’ application would just bring it the Drawing Room in line with other premises, instead of being an exceptional case.
The council’s licensing out of hours department proposed an amended licence with opening hours reduced to 1.30am Monday to Saturday and 1am on Sunday. Last service would be 1am Monday to Saturday and 12.30am on Sunday.
But Withington councillor Chris Wills, together with several community groups, urged the licensing panel to refuse the application.
Sue Hare from Fallowfield Community Guardians has lived in Withington for 30 years and said residents have long suffered noise, crime and disorder issues linked with the large student population in both Withington and neighbouring Fallowfield.
“The problems are long-standing and they’re not going to be solved overnight, but I think another licensed premises is just going to add to the problems,” she added.
“When we go out into Withington on our walkabouts it’s not a nice place to be after midnight.
“You just hear the noise and the rowdiness of people as they return home.”
Kattie Kincaid, chair of the South East Fallowfield Residents’ Group, suggested that the owners could try operating within the existing license and reapply for extended hours if they become established.
The licensing hearing panel agreed that the application did not demonstrate the exceptional circumstances needed to depart from the Withington Stress Area policy and refused the application.
