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Newcastle-under-Lyme bar allowed to stay open extra hour at weekends

Local News by Phil Corrigan - Local Democracy Reporter 1 hour ago  
Tiny Tennessee, in High Street, Newcastle-under-Lyme (image via Phil Corrigan - LDR)
Tiny Tennessee, in High Street, Newcastle-under-Lyme (image via Phil Corrigan - LDR)
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A country and western bar will be allowed to stay open an extra hour at weekends – after assurances were given over noise.

Tiny Tennessee, in Newcastle-under-Lyme town centre, will be permitted to serve drinks until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, and stay open until 12.30am on those days, under its revised premises licence.

But live and recorded music at the High Street venue will still have to end at 11pm each night, after owner Richard Lewis agreed to scale back his application in response to objections from neighbours.

Mr Lewis originally asked the licensing sub-committee at Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council to extend his opening times by an hour to 12.30am, seven days a week, and allow music to be played up to midnight.

The bar hosts live performances from country and western performers, including renowned Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash tribute act Jason Dale.

Four residents in nearby Well Street and ward councillor Sheelagh Casey-Hulme objected to the application, saying there were already problems with music from the bar echoing through their neighbourhood on some nights.

They said they had recorded several videos in their street showing the 'significant levels of noise' coming from the venue.

Mr Lewis, who opened Tiny Tennessee last year, told the sub-committee that he had no idea his bar had been creating noise problems for residents. He said that as soon as he saw the objections to his application he took steps to reduce the noise coming from the venue, which he described as 'the safest bar in town'.

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Mr Lewis said: "I'm not some outside businessman who's coming in to disrupt things and make a quick buck. I'm trying to make something of it. Until a few weeks ago I thought that everyone loved it. So hearing those sound recordings was very upsetting.

"The clientèle who come in are generally an older crowd, with money. They come from all over, as far as an hour away. There's nothing like this in the area.

"We've never had any fights, never had any problems. When we've had a particular act on it can be loud. But I had no idea that it was booming down the street."

Well Street resident Louise Wilson told the sub-committee that on some nights recently the noise from Tiny Tennessee had been 'horrific'.

She said: "The noise levels in our street are probably as high as being in the bar. I've had grandchildren staying, and I have to keep the windows shut – they either can't sleep because they're boiling, or they can't sleep because of the noise. It's restricting my ability to just have peace and quiet in my garden."

Neighbour Sue Sheppard, who has lived in Well Street for 40 years. said: "I know how important it is to bring money into the town centre, so I apologise, in a sense, that we have to make this objection. But we do have significant concerns around the potential for noise.

"We are immediately opposite in Well Street, and if there's a westerly wind, that wind brings any noise straight down into our street. We do not wish to see a licence allowing this bar to operate every night until midnight."

Following a discussion with officers, Mr Lewis agreed to a scaled back application, which was subsequently approved by the sub-comittee.

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On Fridays and Saturdays, late night refreshment and the sale of alcohol will be allowed until midnight, and the bar will be allowed to stay open until 12.30am. From Sunday to Thursday, the sale of alcohol will be allowed until 11pm, with the venue staying open until 11.30pm. The playing of live and recorded music up to 11pm does not require a licence.

     

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