Controversial Leeds Wetherspoons later hours bid partially approved
A Wethersoon pub’s bid for later alcohol sales in a student-heavy area of Leeds has been partially allowed by licensing chiefs.
The Golden Beam, in Headingley, will serve drinks until 11pm, Sunday to Thursday, and 12.30am at weekends, an extra 30 minutes each night.
Fears were raised over noise and anti-social behaviour when the company applied for midnight last orders on week nights.
Leeds City Council received 22 objections to a variation to the premises licence, including from Green Party councillor Tim Goodhall.
Wetherspoon legal director Nigel Connor told a licensing hearing measures would be in place to prevent late-night nuisance.
He told councillors: “We are not seeking to significantly increase the number of people coming to the pub to drink late at night.
“It’s a well-run, well-managed premises. We will very gladly investigate any complaints raised with us.”
Objector Martin Cook described scenes of “mayhem” in Headingley and said people were already being disturbed by noise from its pubs.
He said: “Granting this licence variation would increase the amount of time and space given over to alcohol sales in the area.”
An objection was also raised by the council’s public health team, who said later serving could lead to more crime and disorder.
The Headingley Lane pub was already refused permission to serve drinkers on the Otley Run after a separate application lodged in October.
The premises had agreed not to admit pub crawlers when it was first granted a licence.
Coun Goodall said people were leaving the area because of rowdy behaviour and children were being kept awake at night.
He told the licensing sub-committee: “It affects their sleep. It affects their health. It affects their ability to do school work.”
Councillors unanimously agreed to grant the licence variation in part after the hearing at Leeds Civic Hall.