Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Snooker boss wants to open until 6am every day It’s a licence to brawl, warn club’s neighbours
gwarren@thekmgroup.co.uk A city centre snooker hall has sparked claims it will become a late-night “brawling bar” after applying to open until 6am every day.
Police, the city council and neighbours have all objected to the licensing application by Cousins Snooker and Pool Club in Lower Bridge Street, fearing it will turn into a “latenight drinking establishment”.
The venue’s boss Ali Gun wants to sell alcohol until 5am every day.
But in a report, Canterbury police licensing officer PC Stephen Alexander says: “Pri- marily, this is advertised as a members-only snooker and pool club.
“However, it is strongly felt that if this licence was to be granted, it would become more of a drinking establishment and secondarily a snooker and pool club.”
The business already has permission to open until 3.30am, which it claims has not caused any problems in the area.
It also argues that only gold membership holders would be allowed entry after midnight.
The application is due to be considered by the council’s licensing sub-committee at the Guildhall at 2pm on Tuesday.
The city council licensing and enforcement officer Louise Bentley-Sinstadt says: “With the night-time economy in this area already creating noise, litter and anti-social behaviour, permitting an establishment to provide alcohol after others in the area have closed is giving licence to further nuisance and setting a precedent for other licensed premises to follow suit.”
In her objection, resident Julie Mecoli says: “My family has lived in Longport for 35 years and before the Chill Night Club and Jaspers arrived, we did not suffer from vandalism and late night antisocial behaviour.
“Adding another venue allowed to serve alcohol all night would be irresponsible and possibly negligent on the part of the council.”
The managing agents for Invicta House, Todd and Associates, have also objected.
They complain of existing problems of criminal damage to the building, adding: “We can see no reason for the council to allow this application as one can see this area being turned into a brawling bar/cafe to the detriment of the adjoining tenants and nearby residential units.”
Mr Gun was unavailable for comment this week.
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