New bar to open in Nottinghamshire town despite…

New bar to open in Nottinghamshire town despite concerns

The owner of a planned new Mansfield bar has been told he can open for business – but must have at least two door staff on-site at key times to ease concerns over safety.

Members of a Mansfield District Council licensing panel approved the licence application for Sins and Spirits, a planned new bar on Toothill Lane, during a hearing on Tuesday (October 11).

However, parts of the application were varied and extra conditions were placed on the new venue after concerns were raised by Nottinghamshire Police.

The applicant, Romany Attia, put his case before police and councillors to turn the empty former shop into a bar serving beers, wines, spirits and cocktails beyond midnight each day.

His application proposed opening hours between midday and 1.30am Monday to Thursday and between midday and 2am from Friday to Sunday.

However, Nottinghamshire Police raised concerns about the opening times after Mr Attia proposed just one security staff member on-site during busy drinking hours.

It was feared the venue could be very busy with drinkers, compromising the safety of customers, staff and the single security guard if an incident was to occur.

Mr Attia told the hearing he planned to accommodate about 50 customers on the ground floor for regular drinking activities, such as drinking long drinks and shots, before customers would leave for other venues.

He sees the downstairs of the venue acting as a place where drinkers visit for a short space of time to have shots before leaving – with the venue having a high turnover of customers.

But upstairs, the bar would also have space for 20 further customers not looking to drink in standard pubs and clubs and instead using his venue for drinking other products such as wine.

Mr Attia runs the Britalia restaurant in nearby Leeming Street and said an idea came from a regular customer to use the upstairs of his new venue as an extra place for them to have a drink after finishing their meal upon invitation.

Mansfield District Council's licensing panel approved the licence application for Sins and Spirits, a planned new bar on Toothill Lane (LDR)

Concerns were raised in the hearing that this would constitute a “private members’ club” and would require a separate licence, although these were dismissed by both licensing officers and the applicant’s team.

Nottinghamshire Police told the hearing officers thought the venue should only open until 11pm each day if just one door staff member was on duty during busy periods.

The force recommended a condition requiring at least two security staff from 9pm until closing on Fridays and Saturdays, each Sunday before a bank holiday and prior to any events such as Christmas Eve and New Year.

These terms were accepted when councillors approved the licensing application.

Speaking during the meeting, a spokesperson for the force told the panel: “The police would ask for safeguards to be in place, such as a minimum of two registered door supervisors, to manage the additional risks from later times of operation.

“Door supervisors will be necessary to ensure drugs are not entering the premises, customers and staff are kept safe and to disperse customers at the end of an evening.”

Mr Attia told the committee: “My number one priority is customer safety, staff safety.”

Members of the panel approved Mr Attia’s application as requested, meaning the bar will be allowed to open until 1.30am from Monday to Thursday and until 2am on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

His application also requested an extension of these hours until 3am on bank holidays, Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, with the added condition now requiring at least two door staff to be on shift from 9pm on busy nights.