Verdict on bar late licence postponed

COUNCIL bosses will not rule on a city centre bar’s bid to extend its alcohol licence for another two weeks.

Billy Bootleggers’ application to sell booze until 3am was due to come before a Newcastle City Council licensing committee today, amid concerns from both the local authority and the police over antisocial behaviour.

However, civic centre bosses have now pushed that hearing back to July 24, though they say the delay is purely down to “logistical reasons”.

Northumbria Police claimed that allowing the Nelson Street haunt to extend its current licence by an hour, in line with sister bar No28, would “cause a negative impact on levels of alcohol-related anti-social behaviour and also on the surrounding area which is already very busy”.

But bar bosses, who also applied to sell their own-brand moonshine for customers to take home, said the venue had experienced “no issues” since it opened and could handle another hour of trading.

Bar owner Elliot Towsey said last week: “It’s been over a year since we first opened Billy Bootleggers and have earned our reputation for being a safe, friendly, late-night bar in town.

“I am hoping for a decision to be made on extending the licence which will allow patrons to continue the good times for longer.

“As a hands-on owner myself, I can see the energy in the venue each weekend and personally believe sensible operators like myself should be rewarded with later hours.”