In Ancoats
There’s a couple of people who are not of that mindset but I think generally people are sort of agreed with us.”
He added: “I think somebody is about to have one of the other units. If we work together, we could make some amazing events there.
“Instead what’s going to happen is people will just buy a load of beer from the off-licence and sit there anyway.”
Andy Smith, director of the Blue Dot Festival, said he moved to Ancoats as he thought it was a ‘vibrant, cultural neighbourhood.’
He said: “It is at a crossroads at the moment, and I fear the council’s proposed sweeping ban will ensure that it remains a dormitory neighbourhood – a place for people to go home, eat their dinner and go to sleep.
“I knew I was buying a house two streets away from Sankeys and frankly it’s a shame it’s gone. Walking back late at night, the stream of clubbers was a reassuring presence. Instead of concentrating on their appalling lack of CCTV in the area the council are instead focussing on something that isn’t a problem.
“There is no concern of Northern Quarter culture creeping over. A walk around Ancoats will show you that all the buildings have been snapped up by big developers – there simply isn’t the physical space available for NQ bar culture to proliferate. These proposed measures will ensure people looking to launch art galleries, cinemas, pubs, restaurants, etc, will look elsewhere first.”
A council document said due to the ‘residential nature’ of Ancoats the ban would help combat noise complaints and crime in the area.
Building work is already under way on eight new developments, while planning permission has been granted for six apartment blocks, with thousands of people expected to be moving into the area over the next few years.
Dozens of eateries and bars have opened in recent years including Rudy’s Pizza, Seven Brothers Beerhouse, Elnecot, Squid Ink and Ancoats General Store.
A draft policy document said: “With this in mind, the council considers that a terminal hour of 11pm is appropriate in this area in order to prevent issues that can arise with the night time economy during later hours, particularly such as increases in noise from patrons coming and going to licensed premises, anti-social behaviour, litter and alcohol-related crime and disorder, which would undermine the promotion of the licensing objectives locally.”