Birmingham City Council has given a venue the green light to sell alcohol for 18 hours a day despite residents’ concerns.
Applicant Kelvin Ikechukwu applied for a premises licence for 042 Bar and Restaurant in Soho Hill, which he said would provide a “controlled, sit-down dining environment”.
But the application, seeking permission to sell alcohol from 9am to 3am seven days a week, attracted concern from a number of residents.
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One, who attended a recent licensing meeting, argued some residents felt a venue selling alcohol until 3am was “not at all appropriate locally” and said it was close to Villa Road, which he described as an “antisocial behaviour hotspot”.
He said he feared granting the application would create “the risk of further enhancing and enabling that hotspot of disorder”.
But Duncan Craig, a lawyer representing Mr Ikechukwu, said there was nothing to tie the application to antisocial behaviour and West Midlands Police was “content” with the application after conditions were agreed.
The conditions included ensuring there was CCTV on site and that door staff were deployed from 11pm.
Mr Craig said representations about existing late-night establishments were “completely irrelevant” and there was no evidence to suggest the premises would create an unsafe environment.
Birmingham City Council House -Credit:Copyright Unknown
The applicant previously said 042 Bar and Restaurant was “not an off-licence or takeaway outlet” and alcohol consumption would be strictly on-site.
“It provides sit-down dining and drinks in a controlled, mature environment,” Mr Ikechukwu wrote. “The clientele is predominantly African (Nigerian), aged between 30 to 60, who are more likely to engage in calm social dining than disruptive behaviour.
“This differs significantly from the typical late-night bar profile that attracts younger, high-risk patrons.”
He said the proposed late hours “do not imply a party venue or club atmosphere”.
“Rather it reflects the cultural tradition of evening dining and socialising common in African communities,” he wrote.
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He said dispersal would be managed by trained staff and there would be “clear signage” advising patrons to leave quietly.
“Noise will be controlled through internal acoustic insulation and keeping doors closed during evening service,” Mr Ikechukwu said.
The council’s public health team withdrew its written representation before the meeting.
Members of the licensing sub-committee decided the application could be granted together with the conditions agreed with the police.
“The members were satisfied any potential for issues had been sufficiently addressed in the application and new conditions,” the decision notice read.
“There was a proper focus on the promotion of the licensing objectives and a responsible style of trading had been proposed.
“Nothing in the written representations, or the submissions made in the meeting, had evidenced a threat to the upholding of the licensing objectives.”