Penny Lane Wine Bar is hoping to stay open later but could find itself in hot water
Penny Lane Wine Bar
A wine bar on one of Liverpool’s most famous streets is under investigation by the city council for allegedly operating beyond hours granted by planners. Proposals have been lodged by Penny Lane wine bar for a premises licence allowing the business to trade until 1am at weekends.
According to documents made public by Liverpool Council, when the business was granted planning permission, this only permitted use of the building until 11.30pm. However, the city’s building control department has launched a probe into alleged activities beyond the agreed terminal deadline.
This comes as a fresh premises licence is being sought for the wine bar, which has divided opinion. Applicant Francye Woods is seeking permission to serve customers until 12.30am on Fridays and Saturdays and an hour earlier through the week.
A written representation from Stuart Clark, from the council’s planning and building control team, said there is a current enforcement case open against the property where formal enforcement action has been taken and that Notice has been served and is live. This relates to the business allegedly being open until 1.45am on Fridays and Saturdays on some occasions.
An enforcement notice has instructed the venue to cease trading beyond its agreed hours of 11.30pm. As a result, officials have objected to anything later being awarded when a licensing and gambling sub-committee meets next week.
Former Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Cllr Richard Kemp(Image: Liverpool Echo)
Former Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Cllr Richard Kemp, is the ward councillor for Penny Lane and said while he did not object to a licence being granted, the late hours at the weekend would be problematic. He wrote: “This was a problem with the previous licensees who were repeatedly told by the planning department of the correct hours which they continued to flout.
“The situation was reached whereby, after three clear warnings from the planning department, the previous applicants had legal notices served on them and there was a potential court date due to be finalised.”
Some residents in L18 have backed plans for the wine bar, however. One representation said: “I go into the bar at least once a week and find it a very welcoming and a social environment.
“I take my daughter in there from time to time and it’s such a great family, community and friendly bar. They have different fun events running each night, that caters for everyone in the local area, it’s always the same faces and regulars that go there as well as new people coming to check the place out and when new people come in including tourist you can hear and see how happy they are checking out the Beatles memorabilia and taking selfies of them having a glass of wine on the famous Penny lane, it’s such a tourist trap, it truly is a little gem.”
Another said: “The Penny Lane Wine Bar is truly the only icon, that Liverpool has to showcase the world famous Penny Lane road. Without the Penny Lane Wine Bar, it would be a tragedy for the hundreds of thousands of tourists who travel from all over the world to visit the famous Penny Lane.
“Since Francye Woods took over the bar, the establishment has massively grown, which the local community continue to enjoy. It has great events and live music that pull the community and tourists to the bar.”
The ECHO contacted Penny Lane Wine Bar for comment.