A York bar with a roof terrace is applying for a late night licence – but has run into the opposition of police and others.
Trio Mezze Tapas Bar, on Whip-Ma-Whop-Ma-Gate wants to keep its rooftop area open till 11pm. At the moment it shuts at 9pm.
And the owners also want to extend the time when the bar can play recorded music indoors from 11.30pm to 1am.
The applicant is Mehmet Simsek. “The applicant will ensure that there are a satisfactory number of properly trained staff to service the roof terrace at all times so that he is not spread too thinly across the business as a whole and has already ensured that the CCTV coverage is fully comprehensive in terms of area and hours of coverage,” state documents submitted to City of York Council.
They also say Mr Simsek “has a track record of running a very tight ship. This will continue.
“He often closes the business at times of possible disorder (eg race days or major sporting event days) and this approach will continue.
“Further, the applicant has been in discussions with neighbours who have expressed doubts about the extension of the hours for the roof terrace and they are now content with what he is proposing.”
Public nuisance
However, the police and council – which is the licensing authority – are not content with the plans.
They point out that the Trio Mezze Tapas Bar “sits within York’s CIA (cumulative impact assessment area) an area which the City of York Council has identified as being under the most stress from crime and disorder and public nuisance”.
Licensing officer PC Kim Hollis writes: “The premises now have the sale of alcohol until 1am inside the premises and it is believed that an extension further to the roof terrace is likely to cause a public nuisance and further add to the strain already felt in this area.
“It is also believed that the extension of regulated entertainment until 1am is not in line with a food led venue, and as the premises is already operating into the early hours of the morning for food and alcohol with background music its not believed that applicant has provided enough information about what is intended in applying for this change and how this will not further impact this sensitive area.”
Environmental protection officer at the city council, Michael Golightly, says that “it may result in both statutory nuisance and also public nuisance from customers voices” if the rooftop bar hours were increased.
“The rooftop terrace has no screening from the residential dwellings that overlook it at the back of the premises.
“These residential dwellings only have single glazing, some which may include bedrooms and there is no way that noise from this area can be controlled to an adequate level later in the evening.”
He said the council had sent the bar a warning after they received “a noise complaint about loud amplified music from the premises on 12 May 2022 due to a door being left open”.
And he adds the applicant is in breach of one of their conditions, concerning a valid noise management plan.
Helen Sefton, the council’s senior licensing officer, also opposes the application.
Last year, Trio applied to keep the rooftop bar open till 1am but withdrew the request after a visit from North Yorkshire Police and objections from neighbours.
The new application will be discussed at a licensing hearing on Monday, 31 October.
[tptn_list limit=3 daily=1 hour_range=1]