'It's not a 2,000-capacity nightclub': Leeds restaurant can serve drinks with reduced hours
Cafe and restaurant given alcohol licence after agreeing to reduce the hours it would serve drinks following objections
A cafe and restaurant has been granted an alcohol licence after reaching an agreement with the council and police.
African food venue Damera, in Harehills, agreed to reduce the hours it would serve drinks after facing objections.
The premises on Gledhow Mount was granted permission to sell alcohol until 11.30pm, Friday and Saturday, and 10.30pm during the week.
A licensing hearing was told fears were raised over a new licence in the densely-populated area, which suffers high levels of alcohol-related harm.
But licensing consultant Bill Donne, representing Damera, said it was a food-led business only big enough for 20 customers.
He said: “The business itself is a small cafe that transitions into a restaurant in the evening.
“Guests will not be able to take away drinks from the premises.”
West Yorkshire Police and the council’s Environmental Protection team withdrew objections to the licence application ahead of Tuesday’s hearing.
Leeds City Council’s public health team maintained their objection.
Concerns were also raised by ward councillors Salma Arif and Asghar Ali, who said the venue was too close to people’s homes, schools and places of worship.
Mr Donne, of Silver Fox Licensing Consultants, pointed out that people frequenting the premises would be there to buy food.
He said: “This is not a 2,000-capacity nightclub. It’s 20. This is not an off-licence.”
The amended licence application was granted by a licensing sub-committee at Leeds Civic Hall.
A further condition added to the licence said the premises should be predominantly food-led.