Bar owner hits back in recovery plan row
He says venue unfairly singled out in bid to block licence amendments
AVENUE owner claims they are being unfairly singled out after a bid to block licence amendments including an extension of licensable area, and provision of wrestling events.
Revival Rawtenstall Ltd submitted the application to Rossendale council as part of an ongoing revamp, however, a senior Rossendale councillor has submitted a formal letter of objection.
Last September, the Bacup Road bar - which is expanding into the building next door - was issued with a prohibition notice to close for four weeks after Rossendale council said it had found ‘strong evidence’ of a breach of Covid restrictions one night earlier in the month. Owner Simon Kaden-Smith denied that the bar was at fault.
In the open letter Steve Hughes, who is cabinet member for communities as well as the Longholme ward Labour candidate in next month’s borough council elections, raised concerns including claims of “disproportionate” noise and anti-social behaviour complaints from local residents, prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, and the attraction of a larger and different clientele in conjunction with the operating times.
Mr Hughes told the Free Press this week: “It is with a heavy heart that I’m objecting to this application.
“I absolutely understand that businesses want to get back up and running as we move out of Covid and as restrictions ease.
“Indeed the public want to get back to an element of normal life, but this application is a step too far.”
But Mr Kaden-Smith hit back at the objection, which he said had overshadowed their imminent reopening, which will include an urban beer garden and revamped breakfast offer.
The application covers a licence for boxing/wrestling events, however there is no option to distinguish between them on the form, and Mr Kaden-Smith says they are not planning on “punching” events.
He said: “We are 90 per cent completed with the refurbishment of next door. During the day we will operate as a sports bar and restaurant, and then flip that and open as a nightclub and run the late hours.
“We don’t plan to have any boxing events on. We have a local grappling event with a club that’s local. We normally do them under temporary events (licence), but every single event costs money to put on so it makes sense to put that on the application.”
Mr Kaden-Smith said police and environmental health teams had not raised concerns about the proposals, adding they have worked hard to minimise complaints.
“There were complaints at the beginning,” he acknowledged.
“We reduced the sound from year one massively to make sure we are causing as little noise as we can.
“We are trying to get some form of recovery back.
“I’m under so much pressure and stress and have felt like giving up (the bar) on numerous occasions. Nobody seems to want to cater for the younger generation in this town.
“If Coun Hughes had come to us and said ‘these are our concerns’ he would know the changes we have made now to stop the sound escaping.
“He would know all this if he had bothered to contact us.”
Other candidates in the Longholme ward election are John Oliver (Independent), Mike Walters (Conservative), and Julie White (Green Party).