New Leeds bar and restaurant granted alcohol licence despite noise objections
An agreement has been reached with the new venue
A new bar and food venue in Leeds has been granted an alcohol licence after reaching agreements with the council and police.
Unity Leeds Bar and Restaurant faced objections after applying to sell drinks at its premises on Benson Street in Sheepscar.
Concerns were raised over potential public nuisance if the sale of alcohol was allowed until 3.30pm at weekends at the first-floor venue.
Five public letters of objection were received, a Leeds City Council licensing sub-committee was told.
But West Yorkshire Police and the council’s environmental health team withdrew their concerns following discussions with the applicant.
Teame Fiseha, representing the venue, told councillors: “The restaurant is surrounded by warehouses and supermarkets.
“It’s not intention to make it like a club. Our aim is to serve in a very peaceful way.”
Objectors, who were not present at the hearing, raised concerns including noise and littering.
One said there were worries over the potential impact on students living in nearby university flats.
They said: “This directly impacts our ability to sleep, study and live peacefully in our accommodation.”
The venue applied for alcohol sales until 1.30am, Monday-Thursday, 3.30pm on Fridays and Saturdays and Sunday serving until 11.30pm.
Agreed conditions included CCTV, a challenge 25 policy and an incident register being kept.
An environmental health report on the application said: “Noise from a licensable activity at the premises will not be audible at the nearest noise sensitive premises after 11pm.
“Bottles will not be placed in any external receptacle between 11pm and 7am the following day to minimise noise disturbance to neighbouring properties.”
The licence application said the venue was previously used as a restaurant but did not sell alcohol.
Mr Fiseha told the hearing at Leeds Civic Hall: “We are going to control everything. The noise, the environment.
“We understand very clearly that we must follow all the rules.”