The resurrection of a Newcastle bar and music venue has been dealt a blow – after council bosses blocked plans for a relaunch party.
Billy Bootleggers is due for a grand reopening at its new home in Ouseburn this weekend, having moved into the former Arch 2 Brewpub site on Stepney Bank. But city councillors have refused to grant a licence for the event to go ahead, after police claimed that it could cause a spike in crime.
The venue was the subject of a Newcastle City Council hearing on Tuesday, at which a Northumbria Police inspector said that Billy Bootleggers would present a “significant change” to the Ouseburn’s nightlife. The American-inspired brand, which has a sister venue in Nottingham, was previously found in a dive bar in Newcastle city centre’s Nelson Street, but that has since been rebranded under new management.
