News

Licence rejected for planned gourmet chicken restaurant and bar in Beeston

By Lauren Monaghan, Junior Local Democracy Reporter

---

A proposed chicken restaurant and bar in Beeston has had its licence request rejected by the council following concerns from Nottinghamshire Police it could have led to an increase in late-night crime.

Broxtowe Borough Council’s licensing panel met on Wednesday (June 18) to decide on a new premises licence application submitted by C & B Brew Co Ltd for an empty unit in the Square in Beeston Town Centre.

The company was converting a “bare shell” unit in Station Road, Beeston, into a new craft ale and gourmet chicken restaurant called Mary Lou’s, which includes a bar and stage area for live music.

The venue was planned to allow space for around 70 diners and live music to take place on its stage, including solo singers, bands and comedy shows.

Licensing documents stated the premise proposed “later than expected times” for alcohol sales, with planned sale hours from 9am until midnight Monday to Wednesday, 9am until 2am Thursday to Saturday and 10am until midnight on Sundays.

On New Year’s Eve, alcohol sales would have run from 10am until 2am.

Live music and recorded music was also planned from 8pm until 11pm Sunday to Thursdays, 8pm until 11:30pm from Friday to Saturday and from 8pm until 1am on New Year’s Day.

Opening hours would have been until midnight Monday to Thursday, until 2am on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays and until 2:30am on New Year’s Eve.

But the panel rejected the licence due to public safety concerns and the fact the applicant was refused the lease for the unit.

Speaking during the panel meeting, Nicola Rowlands, Licensing Manager at the council, said: “Since writing the [meeting’s report] it has come to light the applicant has not been granted the lease for unit 4, therefore the application cannot fulfil the [licensing guidance].”

Nottinghamshire Police said in reports they had “great concern” for the impact the space could have on existing antisocial behaviour and alcohol-related problems in the area.

It also noted in documents issues in the area tended to be alcohol-related which cause crime, disorder and nuisance, anti-social behaviour and alcohol confiscations.

A statement by Nottinghamshire Police, read by the panel, said between May 2024 and May 2025, there were 125 incidents recorded for Beeston Town Centre.

A total of 91 of these happened in the area surrounding where the new chicken restaurant would be, with the incidents related to antisocial behaviour and “theft of alcohol”.

The applicant did state in documents they would have high-quality CCTV throughout, sound systems fitted with noise limiters and windows and doors closed during music to “reduce public nuisance”.

Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service following the meeting, Councillor Barbara Carr (Ind) said: “[The lease] is officers’ decision, rather than councillors’ decision. The Square belongs to Broxtowe Borough Council so they will decide who gets the lease and who doesn’t.

“Obviously, [officers] have had information that’s led them to refuse the lease.”

Cllr Carr said the panel had taken everything into consideration – including police concerns – in the refusal of the licence.

The applicant was not present at the meeting but said in a statement to the Local Democracy Reporting Service today (June 19) they are “disappointed” the application was not granted.

They continued: “While we fully acknowledge and respect the views of the council and Nottinghamshire Police, we would like to highlight that our proposal was for a craft beer bar, which offers a completely different environment and customer experience to that of a general late-night bar.

“Our aim was to create a relaxed, community-focused venue centred around quality food, independent beers, and live entertainment such as comedy and acoustic music—not a high-capacity drinking establishment.

“We genuinely believed that Mary Lou’s would have been an asset to the Beeston community, supporting the evening economy, championing local breweries, and offering a welcoming, inclusive space for residents and visitors alike.”

They added they will not appeal the decision and are looking for alternative locations for the venue.