A popular London cocktail bar could be coming to Cardiff despite concerns that it could have a negative impact on an LGBT+ space. Cardiff Council approved an application for a premises licence for a new cocktail bar, Blame Gloria, which is set to come to St Mary's Street.
There is already a Blame Gloria in Covent Garden and Clapham Junction. A Blame Gloria is also due to open in Bristol. The premises licence would allow the cocktail bar, which will be located next to the Queer Emporium, to serve alcohol from Monday to Sunday and provide regulated entertainment, including live music and recorded music indoors.
A number of representations were put forward by members of the public at a Licensing Sub Committee meeting on Tuesday May 7, detailing concerns that having a licensed premises near the Queer Emporium could negatively impact it as a safe space for members of the LGBT+ community.
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One member of the public, Kate Smith, said: "There is a general community objection to more establishments of this kind on Mary's Street and that area of town. We don't need it after 7pm. It is not pleasant and after midday on a weekend it is not pleasant. It doesn't make me proud to live in Cardiff.
"But, most importantly, is the specific location and proximity to the community space that we are referring to, the Queer Emporium - one that is so important to young people. It is a safe space and it is not about drinking or getting drunk."
She added: "I don't begrudge people going out and having a nice time, but I am really concerned about the impact of the proposed bar next door on that sense of safety - daytime drinking and unpredictable behaviour outside. It is difficult already, I think."
Another member of the public, Yan White, who was representing a resident who could not attend the meeting said: "It seems that by going off the Blame Gloria website again and the evidence bundle that it is a lot about daytime drinking. It is that daytime drinking that would be endangering a space like the Queer Emporium.
"It is a daytime space. These concerns aren't so much based on the night time economy, where a lot of this seems to be focused. This is concerning around the happy hours and bottomless brunches.
"On St Mary's Street there is a huge range of bars, like Tonight Josephine, The Slug and Lettuce, Pop World, Peppermint - there is a lot already catering towards this audience. The Queer Emporium, which this could endanger is one of a kind."
Representing the company behind Blame Gloria, Adventure Bar Group, James Anderson of Poppleston Allen attempted to reassure concerned members of the public that the bar is "essentially an evening operator" that would open from lunchtime on Saturday and from 4.30pm or 5pm on a weekday.
Mr Anderson said: "We don't have a daytime trade, so we are not going to be open during the day at all. That is the way that the other Blame Glorias operate."
He added: "With the greatest respect to Pop World, that is a different market. That is 18 to 21. That's cheaper drinks, a big dance floor, queuing to get in, paying to get in. That is not pre-booking, that is not 25 plus, that is not our market."
Adventure Bar Group are the same company behind other popular venues, like Tonight Josephine - of which there is a Cardiff branch - Adventure Bar and The Escapologist. You can read about the Cardiff branch of Tonight Josephine here.
On Ms Smith's comments, Mr Anderson said: "We don't think that we will be at odds with the community and she paints, rather sadly, a bleak picture. Mary's, which is an award winning LGBT+ venue is opposite us, so it respectfully can't be that bad if a venue, which is really specialising in an offer to that community is opposite on the same street.
"Safe spaces and mental health is of course something that we take very seriously, but we don't think that having a space for people for young people to go out and enjoy themselves is at odds with mental health and if anything respectfully, we think that is a good thing for people to be able to go out, have a drink, some food, possibly some entertainment and enjoy themselves."
Cllr Michael Michael, who was chairing the Licensing Sib Committee meeting on Tuesday said in a closing statement: "We recognise the concerns of the objectors; however, in determining this application, the licensing sub-committee can only consider issues that impact the licensing objectives as a result of the licensable activity. We also note that this premises already has a premises licence that authorises the sale of alcohol until later than what is proposed, and that licence will be surrendered on the successful grant of this licence.
We have given regard to the representations from other persons but felt that no evidence was presented that the granting of this application would undermine the licensing objectives."
