“Our aim has always been to be a positive part of the local community”
The Little Gem is based at 126A Greasby Road in Greasby(Image: Google Street View)
A new business has been hit with complaints just days after it opened over fears its opening hours could cause public nuisance and anti-social behaviour. The Little Gem based on Greasby Road said it was “genuinely saddened” by some of the complaints raised.
According to the new Greasby business’ Facebook page, The Little Gem is described as “Greasby’s Hidden Gem” hosting private events, birthdays and celebrations seven days a week. The business opened on April 27 and will be taking bookings from June.
According to its description on Google: “The Little Gem is a glamorous party venue located in Greasby, Wirral. Situated on Greasby Road, The Little Gem stands as Greasby’s contemporary event space. With a function room capable of accommodating up to 100 individuals, we proudly hold the title of being your premier choice for hosting various events. Whether it be charity fundraisers, birthdays, wakes, baby showers, christenings, our aim is to be the backdrop of your most cherished moments.”
Greasby Road Limited applied to Wirral Council for permission to stay open past midnight Sunday to Thursday and until 1.30am on Fridays and Saturdays. Music would be played and alcohol cold until midnight Sunday to Thursday and until 1am Fridays and Saturdays.
The application is due to come before the council’s licensing committee on May 8 following a number of complaints from people in the area. The business has now agreed to reduce its hours as it was originally hoping to be allowed to stay open until 1.30am every day of the week.
A report before the committee outlines the business “will not operate as a bar open to the general public but only as a suite for pre-booked private functions”, with all people attending required to sign a booking form. Local taxi and private hire firms will be promoted to help people leave in an orderly way and the venue will have a zero-tolerance policy to drugs.
However, 16 local residents said they had “concerns that the granting of the application would cause public nuisance and anti-social behaviour within the vicinity of the premises.” A petition has also been created.
Greasby councillor Gail Jenkinson said she had “concerns that noise nuisance will be caused at a late hour if this application is granted.” No comments have been made by Merseyside Police or environmental health, the two authorities that regulate crime and noise issues.
As the ECHO previously reported, Greasby had the lowest rate of crime on the Wirral out of any council ward based on data between 2023 and 2024. Rates of crime were a third of the Wirral average and nearly a quarter of the crime rate across England.
Between March 2024 and February 2025, there were only 67 cases of anti-social behaviour across the year in the ward at a rate of 4.7 cases per 1,000 population.
Nicholas Demetrios, the owner of The Little Gem, said: “We’re genuinely saddened by some of the objections raised, as our aim has always been to be a positive part of the local community.
“The Little Gem is a small, private function suite, only open for pre-booked events, and not a bar trading seven days a week — a point we feel may have been misunderstood.
“Our application to extend our hours is mainly to accommodate Friday and Saturday evening events, which are the most popular times for family celebrations like birthdays, anniversaries, and baby showers. It’s also worth noting that there are other licensed premises in the area already operating past midnight. We take local concerns seriously.
“All clients sign a booking form with full terms and conditions, and are made aware that we are in a residential area and that the venue must operate with respect for our neighbours at all times.
“We hope the committee will support our application, and we remain fully committed to working with the council and residents to ensure The Little Gem contributes positively to the area.”