A York hotel has withdrawn its application for a late-night alcohol licence at the last minute.
Councillors were meeting to discuss the request when word came through from the solicitor for the Clifton Bridge Hotel that they had withdrawn the application.
The Water End venue had applied to serve alcohol from noon-11pm daily, and to serve late night refreshment to hotel guests only until 1am daily.
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The 14-bedroom hotel, with a bar, a 43-cover restaurant, and an outside seating area for up to 40 people, was previously licensed. But the licence was suspended in 2012 due to non-payment of the required annual fee.
Then it lapsed in 2018 following receipt after the council was informed the licence holder had died.
North Yorkshire Police didn’t object to the application after the hotel owners agreed to additional conditions, including installing CCTV and carrying out staff training.
But a number of neighbours had objected.
‘Witnessed fights’
One neighbour wrote: “I have already witnessed a number of fights and drunken and aggressive behaviour outside the hotel, and a late night alcohol licence would undoubtedly make this much worse, particularly in what is otherwise a quiet residential road with a lot of young families.”
Another wrote: “My concerns are many, but I am particularly concerned that this establishment has already been the scene of public disorder without a licence.
“If a licence is granted I am concerned that there would be further, and possibly increased, disorder.”
A third wrote: “I’m aware that this hotel is used by a lot of suffering individuals with addiction challenges.
“I’m not sure if this is a council/ social care opportunity for the unfortunate but I find the idea that an alcohol licence being awarded to the premises nothing short of handing a loaded gun to these guests.
“The point of enabling addicts a safe place to sleep is defeated if alcohol is on offer.”
Ward councillors also objected, saying: “There have been several incidents reported at the hotel that have resulted in police involvement.
“We have also spoken to the local police officers who have expressed their concerns about a licence for Clifton Bridge Hotel.”
A City of York Council licensing hearing was convened today to discuss the hotel’s application.
But just three minutes after it began, council officer Fiona Young said: “At a very late stage we had notification through from the applicant’s solicitor that he’d been instructed to withdraw the application.”
That is the end of this application. If the hotel wants to change its licensing conditions in future, it will have to submit a new application.