A new establishment in Headingley has promised to ban Otley Run pub crawlers if it’s granted a licence to sell alcohol.
Residence 74 is set to open a new cafe-restaurant on North Lane in the student suburb, to add to its current venue in Leeds’ Lawnswood area.
The business’ application for an alcohol licence received 10 objections, predominantly from local people worried about more crime and disorder linked to the boozy Otley Run.
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The famous crawl is increasingly under fire amid claims older drinkers are publicly urinating and harassing female students.
But at a licensing hearing on Friday, Residence 74’s owners promised its offer would be “food-led”.
Salar Eftekhary told a panel of councillors: “Our business is family-friendly and won’t attract people who partake in the Otley Run, which is mentioned in many of the representations.
“I wrote to the objectors. It’s clear they feel it’s going to be another bar operation, but this isn’t the case.
“We’ve a proven track record, with no licensing issues or problems with Environmental Health.”
Mr Eftekhary said the venture would create 20 new jobs for the area and revive a high street unit that’s been empty for around two years.
He also said that if the venue was given permission to sell booze, he would agree to conditions being imposed which would ban Otley Runners from the premises.
Sales of alcohol with takeaway orders and deliveries will also be forbidden, if Leeds City Council grants the licence.
Objectors at the hearing said they had no issue with the new business itself, but stressed they were concerned about the premises becoming a bar at a later date if Residence 74 closed down.
Ian Barraclough said: “Residents are very supportive of a family-run restaurant.
“The hours are extensive, but I don’t think of us would object to the principle of a restaurant.
“It’s what may happen down the road if the licence is transferred and by stealth it becomes a pub.”
No decision on the licence was given at the end of the hearing, with everyone present told the result would be given in writing within five working days.
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