By Andrew Topping, Local Democracy Reporter
A new bar due to transform a former TSB bank in Gedling will only be allowed to serve alcohol until 1am on weekends.
It comes after numerous objections were raised by residents and concerns were voiced over potential anti-social behaviour arising from the new venue.
The venue, named ‘Old Bank Mapperley’, hopes to become a “high-end Italian restaurant” and will take over the former TSB building on Plains Road, Mapperley.
The venue had initially proposed selling alcohol between 8am and 2am Monday to Sunday, with plans to use an attached beer garden close to the rear near Bonington Road.
But 23 objections were raised against the proposals, with people in the area concerned over late opening hours which do not mirror the operating times of any other venue nearby.
Gedling Borough Council’s environmental health officer also raised objection to the proposed beer garden, citing concerns over potential “public nuisance” and noise issues it could generate.
However, a licensing panel held by the council on Thursday (January 13) heard many of the concerns have now been addressed by the applicant.
The meeting was told the new venue’s owners have come to an agreement with the environmental health officer not to use the beer garden at all.
The venue also proposed limiting its licensed hours to between 8am and 1am on Fridays and Saturdays, with alcohol sales limited to no later than 11.30pm every other day.
A spokesperson for the applicant told the meeting these amendments were offered to form a closer working relationship with the community and to address the concerns raised in their objections.
They said: “This was done in an effort to work in partnership with the residents and we believe their concerns have been dealt with.
“The applicant is investing substantial funds to create a high-end venue for the community, which we believe they will be proud of, and they are keen to avoid us being the last venue to get a drink when others have closed.”
On the beer garden agreement, they added: “There will be no use of the beer garden, that’s not just for licensable activities but for no use full stop, people can’t even go there.”
The meeting heard concerns from some members of the public over how the initially-proposed opening hours could have impacted the community.
Mark Smalley, who lives on Bonington Road, said: “On balance we welcome development in the area and we certainly welcome the removal of the beer garden.
“We don’t want a derelict bank at the end of the road any more and a nice restaurant would be great for us.
“It just needs to work with us and not have people leaving in the early hours of the morning.”
The panel, made up of three councillors, granted the venue a license to sell alcohol between 8am and 11.30pm from Sunday to Thursday, and between 8am and 1am on Fridays and Saturdays.
On each of these days, the venue would close half an hour after the end of alcohol sales to give customers the opportunity to finish their drinks.
The new venue hopes to occasionally show plays, films, sport, live music, recorded music and dance performances during these hours.
And it states it will bring in a CCTV recording system prior to opening and will train all members of staff in the sale of alcohol, stressing it will follow “all relevant legislation” on public safety and nuisance.
Physical changes to the venue are subject to planning permission, which is yet to be granted by the council.
