Leicester City
Concerns over plan to bring former Leicester city centre shisha bar back into use
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A plan to bring a former city centre shisha bar back into use has been unveiled. The now empty Church Gate building that was once home to the Doen Lounge could reopen, a licensing application reveals.
The building has fallen into disrepair since the bar closed, with pigeon and rat infestations and flooding in parts of it, council documents state. Electricity to the building has also been cut off due to the former owner not paying their bills.
However, it could be given a new lease of life after new owner Himanshu Patel proposed reopening it. The new venue is to be called Gate 65. He has applied to Leicester City Council for a new licence for the building. The authority said the planned new use is very similar to the last – a Shisha Bar and Restaurant.
Both the council and Leicestershire Police have raised some concerns about the proposal – particularly the late night weekend opening hours. Mr Patel has requested permission to keep the premises’ doors open from 4pm each day until midnight Monday to Wednesday and until 4am on Thursday through to Sunday nights.
Jefferson Pritchard, licensing officer for the police force, said: “Unfortunately, late night refreshment venues and licensed premises which supply alcohol, often act as magnets for members of the public under the influence of alcohol and other illegal substances. This does sometimes result in anti-social behaviour, crime and disorder.”
He added the application was “vague” but “hints at some mitigating measures” for potential problems. The force suggested the opening hours be reduced to 4pm until 2:30am on Thursdays and Sundays and from 4pm until 3:30am on Fridays and Saturdays.
He also proposed conditions around CCTV, ensuring music is turned off at least 30 minutes before closing on nights the bar closes after midnight and the use of bouncers on Friday and Saturday nights. Pc Pritchard said the applicant had “indicated he would be willing to agree to the proposed conditions”.
He added: “Leicestershire Police have some concerns about the application but believe the inclusion of some additional conditions will reduce the likelihood of crime and disorder in the future and help promote and uphold the licensing objectives.”
Both the noise and licensing teams at the city council also weighed in with similar concerns. Noise officer James Brown said the nighttime industry has “dwindled significantly” in Church Gate over the past decade and is now mostly shops, residential properties and a few restaurants.
This has reduced noise levels in the area, he added. As the venue is a shisha bar, there is an open roof section in the building. This will “provide a pathway for noise to travel through and impact the adjacent properties”, Mr Brown added.
The inclusion of “amplified music” in the application was also raised as a concern, as was the request to serve alcohol. “Incidences of impulsive noises such as shouting or glasses smashing will be particularly intrusive to nearby properties”, Mr Brown said.
Leicester City Council’s licensing committee is set to debate the application next week. They will have to decide whether to approve the licence, approve it subject to conditions or reject it.
If approved, documents suggest it could still be some months before the venue opens due to the repairs needed.
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