Bar stays shut in seating row ‘farce’
APOPULAR bar will miss out on two bumper weeks of takings due to a licensing dispute labelled a “farce”.
An intervention by Coun Miles Parkinson saw parking spaces suspended on Accrington’s Water Street last week to allow microbar Hustle to serve customers outdoors - as lockdown was eased on pubs and bars.
But then on the eve of reopening, the venue say they were contacted by Hyndburn council’s licensing department saying they are not licensed to open the outdoor area. They now won’t be opening at all until Friday, July 17.
Council leader Parkinson said he fully sympathised with the bar owner’s plight but said his hands were tied because licensing is a statutory matter.
Thousands of pounds has been spent on refurbishing the bar during the fallow months of lockdown and owner Philip Hamilton has even written to the Prime Minister about their plight. They say the layout of the former sunbed shop, which only opened last September, means they need the outdoor space to open viably and safely.
A Hustle Bar spokesman claimed they had been trying to contact the council for more than five weeks.
He told the Observer: “It’s been a joke. Miles Parkinson has got the parking bays in front of Hustle suspended. Licensing called us at 4.30pm on the Friday before everything was ready to go. We have been trying to contact the council since June 2 as to what we needed. We have tried everything we could have done.
“It was pointless Miles doing what he did in the first place.”
The spokesman said they fully support the town’s other venues and are glad they have been able to reopen, but say more outdoor areas are needed to help the “struggling” trade survive.
He added: “We knew we were going to be too busy so we needed that outside space to make it viable. It wasn’t about money, it was just to make everybody happy. A few other bars have opened and people have been unhappy having to have time slots. We wanted it just to run smoothly.
“We got mentioned by [MP] Sara Britcliffe in the House of Commons about microbars opening. Boris Johnson is talking about relaxing the laws. We have only been open for six months, and we have had no issues whatsoever, never had any concerns in there or any trouble, a brilliant clientele. We are shocked at the way we have treated. It’s just red tape, red tape. It’s crippling us. I just don’t get it.”
In the letter to PM Mr Johnson Mr Hamilton stated: “All over the UK we have seen countless local authorities being proactive and encouraging the entertainment sector to utilise outdoor space in order to provide a safe environment. “Hyndburn’s independent bars need help now or they are at serious risk of going under. We get no encouragement from our local authority. Their heavyhanded inconsistent attitude towards us has baffled us and we find it most disappointing.
“We find it ironic that our Local Authority are running a campaign encouraging people to shop local, spend local and so they should as the small high street businesses are the lifeblood of any local economy. It’s just sad and disappointing that the same rhetoric doesn’t extend to the pubs, clubs and bars of Accrington.”
Coun Parkinson said Mr Hamilton was “doing everything correctly” and agreed that the situation was farcical.
He said: “Unfortunately the situation in licensing law I’ve no powers to change that. Other things I can intercede in.
This is causing sheer frustration which I totally appreciate for the business owner who has invested in tables and chairs etc. He’s doing everything to help his business through this period. I want to support that, but I cannot overturn the issue. I feel the frustration. He’s doing everything correctly.”
He said once the licensing authority has received the temporary application there have to be five clear weekdays before the decision can be implemented.
Hustle Bar have placed on record their thanks to both Coun Parkinson and MP Sara Britcliffe MP for their support.