A York pub’s expansion plans come under scrutiny later this week.
The Old Grey Mare on Clifton Green has undergone big changes – and wants to expand its alcohol licence to cover its new glass atrium, its pergola on the side and a new ‘wine cave’.
It’s also changing the public bar and pool room into a shop and deli. And it wants to extend its alcohol licence to start at 8am, with alcohol only served with food till 10am.
North Yorkshire Police met with the licensees and are happy for the licence changes to go ahead as long as a number of conditions are met, including the installation of a colour CCTV system.
But four neighbours have expressed unhappiness about the proposed changes, fearing they will cause more noise and anti-social behaviour in a residential area.
One said: “I am new to the area and I’m not sure I would have bought my house if I’d have known about the newly refurbished pub and its late night activities.
“This is our retirement home and not what I expected from a Conservation Zone.”
They said “the noise generated by music from the pub presently isn’t acceptable. Believe me, as it is, I can hear the beat of music thudding when I’m in bed.”
‘Detrimental to children’
Another pointed out that the Old Grey Mare is on the route to several schools and nurseries.
“These young people pass directly in front of the Old Grey Mare. We consider it would be detrimental for these young, and in some cases very young, children to be exposed to adults imbibing alcohol at such early hours of the day.”
A third complained about the existing noise and added: “The owners have also extended their outside seating into the car park which brings noise even closer to our house.
“This also contributes to them not opening the car park causing even more parking problems on an already overcrowded street.”
The City of York Council licensing hearing will take place on Thursday (25 August). Full details here.