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.
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Owner Elliot Towsey is now bringing Billy Bootleggers back to Tyneside – with plans to host four music nights per week at its new home. The 150-capacity venue had applied for permission to stage a three-day relaunch event from this Friday to Sunday, with live music until 11pm and the bar serving drinks until 1am.
Solicitor Richard Arnot, representing Billy Bootleggers at the council hearing, told councillors that it was a “well-run and well-loved” brand and “not the sort of premises that attracts trouble”, given that its focus on rock n roll, rockabilly, Motown, folk, and bluegrass music tends to appeal to an older crowd. Mr Arnot said at the council’s licensing sub-committee that the bar will be a “fantastic addition” to the Ouseburn and was putting itself “in the spotlight” this weekend, knowing that any problems with its launch party would damage its reputation and harm efforts for it to secure a new, permanent licence for the Stepney Bank site.
He added: “Our sort of crowd is not troublesome and I can say that with absolute confidence because you have seen us in the city centre for years and you know we don’t cause problems.”
However, East End police inspector Craig Patchett warned the committee that the late-night launch party was “not something that I am comfortable with” as it risked a spike in crime and anti-social behaviour in an area that currently suffers few incidents. Concerns were raised about patrons leaving pubs such as the Tannners Arms and Ship Inn at midnight but then staying out drinking for longer at Billy Bootleggers, when they would have otherwise left the area.
Insp Patchett said he had to consider a “worst case scenario” where 150 people are leaving Billy Bootleggers at 1.30am and are caught in “flashpoints”, though bosses had said there would in reality be a gradual dispersal of people after the live music ends at 11pm. The council’s environmental health department also objected to the Temporary Event Notice application on grounds of noise nuisance.
Confirming that the temporary licence has been refused, the committee said on Wednesday that it “heard and accepted the evidence of Northumbria Police that extended hours, especially over a bank holiday weekend would lead to more persons remaining in the locality and therefore the potential existed for an increase in anti social behaviour”.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service has contacted Mr Towsey to ask if the launch this weekend will still go ahead. The venue’s existing licence would allow for the playing of music and sale of alcohol until 11pm only.
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