Bar’s fresh bid to sell booze without a meal

A DUNDEE bar and restaurant has launched a fresh bid to serve drinks to customers — after it was ruled revellers could only enjoy a tipple if they buy food.

Upmarket eatery 172 at The Caird has applied to the city’s licensing board for the removal of a condition which means customers can only drink alcohol if they have a meal.

Legal representatives for restaurant boss Cosmo Molinaro are hopeful the new application will be given the go-ahead — despite a similar request being rejected in 2015.

Councillors previously imposed the condition because they ruled the city had an overprovision of premises selling alcohol on its own.

However, that policy has since been called into question — after a sheriff called it “flawed” following a court battle between the council and a supermarket over booze sales.

Janet Hood, who represents Mr Molinaro, said: “The final decision lies with the board but I don’t believe what we are asking for is unreasonable.

“172 at The Caird is only looking to trade in the same manner as any other licensed premises. The venue is a safe place to drink.

“We are hopeful there will be no issue removing the condition, given it is not a requirement at other establishments.

“It wouldn’t be unreasonable for people to have a drink with or without a meal.”

West End councillor Fraser Macpherson previously backed the venue’s bid to have a licence which would allow revellers to drink without eating at the same time.

He said today: “We have an awful lot of licensed establishments here in the city.

“But this is a high-quality establishment and although it is in the West End ward, it is in the greater city centre area.