New Indian street food restaurant to open in Leeds student hotspot
The restaurant will serve vegetarian street food including Tandoori Paneer Tikka and Samosa Chaat
An Indian street food restaurant in Leeds will be allowed to serve alcohol after it opens in a busy student area.
Vegetarian venue Dur Dashan, on Cardigan Road, was granted a premises licence by councillors.
Leeds City Council decided drinks could be sold until 10am, Sunday-Thursday, and 11pm at weekends.
A licensing sub-committee was told objections were received from people living in the community, which suffered from street drinking, littering and noise.
But Chris Rees-Gay, representing the applicant, Nileshvariben HevinZadafiya, said measures would be in place to prevent public nuisance.
He said: “The premises will be a small Indian street food restaurant, purely vegetarian, something they think is going to be unique to Leeds.”
The hearing was told alcohol would be served with food at the venue, which would have an outside seating area for up to 15 customers.
Five public letters of objection were received, although one had been withdrawn ahead of Tuesday’s hearing at Leeds Civic Hall.
Police and council officers also raised concerns, but withdrew their representations after agreements were reached with the applicant.
Councillors were told the premises, which is yet to open, was in a Cumulative Impact Area, classed as suffering from high levels of alcohol-related harm.
One objector wrote: “This area experiences issues relating to anti-social behaviour, street drinking, littering and noise, particular during evenings and weekends.”
Mr Rees-Gay said the venue would be food-led and a meeting had been offered with nearby householders.
He said: “As a good operator, each person has been written to.”
Conditions on the licence would include staff training, age checks and CCTV, the hearing was told.
Mr Rees-Gay said: “They are willing to work with the local residents to make sure there are no issues.”
A menu submitted as part of the planning application listed drinks including wine, beers and cocktails.
Tandoori Paneer Tikka, Bhel Puri and Samosa Chaat were among items on the planned food menu.