CONTROVERSIAL plans to create a new restaurant in an ‘iconic’ part of Worcester have been given the green light, despite residents’ fears it will become a nightclub.
Objections were raised by neighbours of Browns@TheQuay at a Licensing Sub-Committee meeting last Thursday (November 27) as they believed the late-night drinking hours would lead to an increase in noise and anti-social behaviour.
But Darren Pinches, speaking on behalf of the newly-formed South Quay site, dispelled the idea the restaurant would be turned into a club and said: “There is absolutely no chance in the world.
“We are not a nightclub, it is all about being a grand place in Worcester and that is what it is going to be. It would be the last place to put a nightclub.
“I am delighted it has been passed and it’s nice to have the backing from the council to move.”
Late night revellers creating noise disturbance, vomiting and even urinating in a public courtyard were just some of the concerns raised by neighbours.
But Sarah Clover, who represented restaurant owners Bushwackers Leisure Limited, said a deal had been done with a taxi firm to avoid cars driving by the homes late at night and that an acoustic survey at the site will also be undertaken.
“From a town centre point of view you want this to be an attractive and positive area contributing to the community and the community area,” she said.
“On the one hand I can see why it’s been an issue for residents, but on the other hand the particular concerns they have, the issues about it being a nightclub, are completely unfounded.
“Live music is not the day to day idea for the premises, it is merely an occasional event to occur within the boundaries of what is reasonable.
“It appears the residents simply do not believe Bushwackers Limited and to put it another way they think they are lying. They think it is going to be a nightclub but there is no evidence for saying that.”
The eatery, a merger between Brown’s Wine Bar and The Quay restaurant, will cater for 120 diners and sell alcohol between 7am and 1am between Monday and Saturday and from 7am to 12.01am on a Sunday.
Regulated entertainment will run from 7am to 1.30am from Monday to Saturday, 7am to 12.01am on Sundays, and late night refreshments were passed from 11pm to 1.30am Monday to Saturday and 11pm to 1am Sunday.
But despite objections, Ian Jack, a resident of Merchants House which adjoins Browns, said he was not surprised the application had been passed.
“I am disappointed but not altogether surprised,” he said. “We have never reported things in the past but from here on in if there is any incident Environmental Health will be contacted.
“There is no point phoning up late at night and saying there’s an incident outside as that has already disrupted our sleep. It is all about prevention not care.”
