Adventure Bar Group granted new premises licence for its latest cocktail bar

The Adventure Bar Group, one of the most dynamic bar companies in the UK, has been granted a new premises licence for its latest bar opening, this time in Bristol

This is the 12th cocktail bar for the Group, following the opening of Tonight Josephine and Luna Springs in Birmingham.

The new premises licence replaces an existing premises licence for the site at 28 Baldwin Street, Bristol, which allows for the sale of alcohol at the 350 capacity venue:

• until 2am Sunday to Wednesday, and
• until 3am Thursday, Friday and Saturday

Premise licence application and objections

Despite the site already having two existing premises licences, licensing solicitor James Anderson, applied for a new premises licence, which he felt better suited the premises.

The premises licences application received twenty-eight objections (legally called representations) from local residents; many from the 53 homes based above the venue. Issues were raised over potential noise, antisocial behaviour and the possibility of cigarette smoke drifting up towards the homes from a designated outside area, and overall concerns that this would harm the residents’ quality of life.

Other conditions of the premises licence included:

• Adding soundproof layers to the floor and ceiling of the ground floor, and;
• Installing a noise limiter

Licensing solicitor and partner at Poppleston Allen, James Anderson commented: “Adventure Bar Group offer a premium cocktail experience. They are a good and responsible operator who are used to operating in city centres with residents above. With regards to residents’ concerns about crime and antisocial behaviour, the premises will benefit the area because at the moment the ground floor is closed, as is Dough Pizza new door, so there is a dead area with flats above that isn’t particularly well lit. Adventure Bar Group will add a presence to the street, install CCTV and make the area more secure.”

James continued: “We have worked with residents and are committed to that. We don’t want to cause a nuisance. The conditions we have put in are based around trying to make residents’ lives better, not worse.”

Cumulative impact area

Further adding to the complexity of the premise licensing applications – and the decision to grant the licence by the licensing committee – was the fact that the premises sits within the cumulative impact area of Bristol City Council.

This means there is a presumption that any new premises licence application, or major premises licence variation, will be refused unless the application shows exceptional circumstances and that it will not add to the existing issues in the area.

Finding a cumulative area with the help of CizApp

If you have found a site that you would like to trade from, but are unsure if it sits within an area restricted by a cumulative impact policy, you can use our free search tool to find out. Simply add a postcode or address and you will see, instantly, if any policies are live. And if they are; you get a link to the relevant licensing policy and see exactly what the restrictions are.

You can access CizApp here: cizapp.co.uk

To get in contact with James Anderson contact him on 0115 9349 195 or 07971 284 605