Licence granted for new Stalybridge restaurant

A STALYBRIDGE restaurant has been given a licence, despite concerns from people living nearby.

Café Continental will now set up in a former shop on Melbourne Street after Tameside Council licensing chiefs heard arguments for and against.

However, those behind it have been told they cannot sell alcohol on a Friday and Saturday to the 1am limit they wanted – 12.30am on Sundays.

Cafe Continental will open later this summer on Melbourne Street in Stalybridge. Image GGC Media

The same goes for having live and recorded music playing at the venue. The limit is now midnight, but it can open until the requested hours.

Ryan Robinson, who is behind the scheme, applied for a licence to sell alcohol and have entertainment on until the early hours of the morning at weekends.

But a meeting of Tameside Council’s Speaker’s Panel (Liquor Licensing) committee on Thursday, July 11 heard worries against the intention to put entertainment on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings.

Work is underway at the site in Stalybridge

Tenants of flats and business owners either above the unit or close by and voiced their worries about the threat of noise pollution.

Barbara Neary said: “This simply won’t be fair to the residential properties above, adjacent and opposite.

“The selling of alcohol would encourage a drinking culture in the late evening, which would invariably make its way on to the street.”

Lindsey Cormack added: “I have to use earplugs to get to sleep and I am worried that I will not be able to keep my windows open in the warmer months.

“I have witnessed vomit on my doorstep and on the pavement, as well as discarded beer glasses/bottles or half eaten takeaways left in several areas of Melbourne Street.

“This is unpleasant for the people who live here, as well as local businesses.”

Graham Travis told the meeting: “My bedroom’s right above the proposed café/restaurant.

“I take the point that I live in the centre of a town and I completely understand having freedom to allow the business to develop.

“I take on board that you don’t have a crystal ball or plan every single thing, but my personal point is I work for Tameside Hospital as a nursing assistant and I’ve a rotating shift pattern – sometimes I’m not getting in until 9.30pm-10pm, sometimes I’m on duty for 7am.

“If it’s in-house music while people are dining, that’s one thing but if it’s a live performance and not background, that’s my personal issue.”

Addressing the panel, Mr Robinson and solicitor Mark Hobson told why the 1am licence was applied for – and how he felt he had not been supported in his aim.

He said: “First and foremost, we are a restaurant. The submission of the licence was for flexibility.

“The modern dining experience has changed from 20 years ago – The Ivy has a DJ on until gone midnight, that’s mirrored across Manchester city centre.

“And hospitality is people enjoying themselves enjoying alcohol responsibly and listening to music. That’s hospitality in a nutshell.

“If my establishment is known as a bar, we have failed. We have to offer what they offer in Manchester. Otherwise, where do we go?

“I’m genuinely concerned for the residents. I do not want to disrupt your life. I wouldn’t want to be worried for my wellbeing to be subject to noise.

“However, we are in a town centre. Where do we go? Every time I’ve gone to the council with things, I’ve been having the door shut in my face.

“It’s mostly going to be background music and singers, not bands but I don’t want to stick a leash on things. I would like the freedom to decide.”

Mr Robinson also took aim at the naysayers, adding: “We are in a town centre, where do we go if we don’t take it to the town centres?

“Do we go to Manchester city centre, where the rate of survival is even less, or do we put money into the local areas? That’s what I’m trying to do.

“I’ve had to read a lot of things in the complaints about me that are simply not true, which I’m really disappointed about.

“I’m a really hardworking and responsible individual. The reputation means the world to me. My house is on the line and I have a specific business plan we need to fulfil to stay alive.

“I feel I’ve tripped myself up by being too honest on the application. I feel like I shouldn’t feel like that. We should be open and honest about what we want to do and find some happy ground.

“This is kind of persecution without crime. We’re talking about things that haven’t happened.”

Mr Hobson added: “Ryan is taking on a shop in the centre that has been empty since 2018.

“Stalybridge has been in decline. This business is going to bring in jobs, support the local economy and support the council’s vision of the town centre.

“This will help return vitality and make it vibrant. It’s not a pub or a nightclub. It is a food-led business and the internal layout shows that. A bad reputation spreads and Ryan doesn’t want that.”

After discussion over having door staff – with Mr Robinson saying: “If we had to have mob-handed doormen at weekends without there being a specific reason, it would kill us,” – chair of the panel, Cllr Jean Drennan, granted a licence until midnight.

She said: “We unanimously resolve to grant the licence. The panel wants to give the new business the best opportunity to begin and thrive.

“The need for door staff will be regularly reviewed and risk assessed by the licence holder.”