Neighbours speak out over plans to reopen pub with new late licence

An application to re-open a pub with late night weekend hours has been hit with objections from some neighbours. A hearing of Bolton Council’s licensing committee later this week will consider an application for a licence for the Bowling Green, Bury Road, Bolton.

The pub has been closed in recent years with the upper floor of the building converted to flats.

The application, by SJR Trading Ltd, originally requested opening times until 3am on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. After the request for a licence was made, an indication was received by the council of some amendments the applicants would be prepared to make.

They include closing time and all related licensable activities to be reduced from 3am to 1am Thursday to Saturday with last alcohol sales to be brought back to 12.30am. The applicants also said a minimum of two SIA registered door staff would be employed on Thursday to Saturday nights from 8pm until closing time.

The application gave a description of the business planned at the Bowling Green, which has a beer garden with capacity for about 20 people. It said: “It will be a family bar and restaurant until 10pm.

“Later in the evening the premises becomes more of a bar with hot food snacks. The venue may be used for occasional function hire in its entirety or in sections of the premises for events such as funerals, baptisms and community based events.”

Objections from some neighbours have been published by the council, responding to the original application, which included the 3am closure time. The included fears of noise and anti-social behaviour should the licence be granted.

On objector, said: “The times this place wants to stay open is just ridiculous and will cause so much distress to the neighbours