D-Day looms for Loch Fyne decision
A DECISION is due in days on plans to turn a former fish restaurant in a Tyneside suburb into a new bar.
Vaulkhard Leisure wants to transform the closed Loch Fyne seafood eatery in Gosforth, Newcastle, into its third Barluga bar and restaurant.
However, the plans have been met with opposition from many residents, who fear a spike in drunk and disorderly behaviour on the High Street venue.
A swathe of objections sent to the city council’s licensing sub-committee, ahead of a hearing next Tuesday, includes concerns over drinkers “weeing on your gate” and “puking in your bush”.
One objector said: “This will be a huge venue, it will be an attraction of its own to people out of the area to come and use – more taxis, more pedestrians, more boisterous antisocial behaviour potential – and when there are groups of people passing each other on the street, altercations and verbals are more likely to occur, especially under the influence of alcohol.
“Neighbouring residents and businesses will be affected by this in so many ways. Crime and disorder rates go up, public nuisance becomes the norm – it is expected on a weekend – public safety issues abound, and worst of all parents will not bring their children to the venues already on the street as the clientele is too adult.”
Many residents have argued the plans would fundamentally change the character of the site from a family-friendly restaurant to a bar, and would inevitably lead to increased alcohol consumption, noise and disturbance for residents, more antisocial behaviour and litter”.
In August, Vaulkhard director Ollie Vaulkhard said that the new bar would “deliver a site that adds to the local amenities and the quality on offer for the residents”, and be similar to the Barluga in the city centre.
He said: “It will follow the model and style of Grey Street, with food always available, no DJ or live music, no late trading hours, no cheap drinks, waiter and waitress table service at all times and our usual standards of service and quality.”
Mr Vaulkhard added: “I look at places like Jesmond where the offer is cheap and messy and the residents suffer and can understand why the Gosforth residents may be concerned, but Barluga has operated on Grey Street for 17 years and is a good neighbour and partner with the authorities and has never been a site where cheap or cutting corners has been our way of operating.”
The leisure group wants the council to remove a number of conditions on the venue’s licence, which would mean that drinks are no longer restricted to customers who are seated and that a 110-person maximum occupancy limit was lifted.
Local councillors have also raised serious concerns over the plans.
Gosforth councillor Colin Ferguson said: “In the present economic climate, I accept that whichever business takes over the site needs to be financially viable and to find a market. However, nobody wants to see drunken and disorderly behaviour in the evenings in Gosforth.
“No one wants the High Street to become a magnet for unruly groups, which will ultimately harm the potential success of the whole High Street.
“I believe a well-managed business, with an appropriate balance of food and alcohol sales has the potential to be successful in this space, providing that the licence is appropriate for the location and – crucially – that the business receives the buy-in of local residents.”