Decision made on licence plans for new bar in former bank

A successful bar operator who plans to open a new venue in a former bank has been granted a premises license for the venture.

The Backstage Bars company applied to Wyre Council for the licence in respect of Cleveleys’ former NatWest building, which closed as a bank in April.

The plans went before Wyre Council’s licensing committee last week when they were given the go ahead.

Ian Fletcher, boss of Backstage Bars, already has an existing Backstage Bar in Victoria Road West, which opened two years ago in the former CJ Cycles shop and has proved very popular.

Mr Fletcher also owns the well known Waterloo Music Bar in Blackpool and another Backstage Bar next to it.

As well as the application for premises licence, he has also submitted a planning application for the bar, located on Victoria Square, which is still pending.

An officer’s report said of the licence bid: “The applicant wishes to be authorised to provide the sale of alcohol for consumption on the premises, between 10am and midnight on Monday to Thursday, 12 noon to 2am on a Friday and Saturday, and 12 noon to midnight on a Sunday.

“The proposed opening hours are 12 to 12.30 on a Monday to Thursday, 12.00 to 02.30am on a Friday and Saturday, and 12.00 to 12.30 on a Sunday.

“The applicant has not applied for live music as part of this application. However, the activity of Live music is permitted to take place on alcohol licensed premises between 08:00 hours and 23:00 hours on any day as long as the audience is below 500. “

However, there were some objections to the later times, with both Cllr Rob Fail and Labcashire Constabulary stating a preference for 1am closing time instead of 2am on Fridays and Saturdays.

Cllr Fail said: “The daytime and nighttime economy of Cleveleys has benefited greatly from the addition of Backstage. It has helped increase both the footfall and the vibrancy of the town.

“Clearly the loss of Nat West from our high street is not welcomed, but its replacement with another ‘Backstage’ establishment is very much welcomed.

“Not wishing to dampen the enthusiasm for another successful venture, it is respectfully suggested that the proposed opening times need careful consideration, balancing the wishes of the owners with the impact on residents and what a change in hours would mean to Cleveleys’ night time economy.

“With pushback from the police with regard to 2am openings for another nearby establishment, it would seem fair that the times for this establishment do not go beyond what had been negotiated for the nearby establishment, i.e. 1am.”

The licence was approved, including the 2am times, with a number of conditions.