Fears over licence given to restaurant

A NEW restaurant in Glasgow has been given permission to show live sport – despite a neighbour’s claim that there is “almost a no- go sectarian area” around the venue.

The objector believed allowing televised sport would turn the Bell Street venue into “yet another Celtic pub” underneath flats, which is “very anti- social” for residents.

She was one of six people to oppose the bid but the city’s licensing board approved the change. The applicant agreed to prevent visitors from wearing football colours.

A Police Scotland representative said the force had “one call specific to that premises last year, in which sectarian singing was mentioned”. When officers attended, there was “nothing ongoing at the time”.

The officer said: “There was nothing to confirm that the premises were involved.

“There were large numbers of individuals outside various premises at that point.”

A council official said there were four noise complaints related to the premises in December, but when staff arrived “no noise nuisance was witnessed”.

Archie MacIver, the licensing lawyer representing the owners, insisted the new venue would be a restaurant, rather than a sports bar.

The objector said: “I’ve lived in the building for over 20 years now and I’ve just witnessed the decline of the area. It’s almost a no- go sectarian area in Glasgow now. It’s making our lives intolerable.”

She said people are outside until 2am or 3am and the new plan would see anti- social behaviour “extend around the corner”.

Another objector was concerned about the “lack of diversity in the area”.

MacIver said the restaurant would be seated, with table service.

The venue was previously kebab restaurant Der Berliner which closed last November.