By George Lythgoe, Local Democracy Reporting Service
A NEW Stalybridge bar has been granted a licence after assuring locals it will not be like the town’s notorious ‘old Staly Vegas days.’
Tipsys will become the latest wine and cocktail venue on Trinity Street after John Whittle, who owns nearby Judge’s received permission.
People living close by objected to the initial 3am application, mainly over noise concerns.
Norma Hurren, who lives near the venue opposite the Civic Hall, told a meeting of Tameside Council’s Speaker’ Panel (Liquor Licensing) committee: “Do you realise you are next to three very important buildings with the church, the Civic Hall and the library.
“Some crackpot from your bar is going to come out and break something. A lot of people feel like I do about this.
“We are trying to get rid of that ‘Staly Vegas’ image.”
Other objections stated: “We dread the summertime due to the bars down the road that are open till 12 o’clock at night.
“I feel if another bar is opened next to a care home, then they’re going to have the same problem as us.
“I think it’s so unfair that you’re even considering granting permission for a bar to be open till at least 1 am in the morning next to a care home.”
But Mr Whittle replied it would be a ‘starting off bar,’ where people would go in the evening for a quieter drink with friends.
He said he has visited the care home to ask about any concerns they may have, but they did not raise any objection to the application.
He added: “We have been running Judges for 13 years and never had a complaint. The people at the care home didn’t even know Judges was there.
“We normally have over 100 people at Judges so this will be less noisy.”
In an email, he added: “Our plans for the new bar are for it to be a more relaxed atmosphere and not a rowdy night club we are NOT planning on having bands on or loud disco/ karaoke nights.
“When the building came up for sale, we saw an opportunity to put something back in the community of Stalybridge and renovate the buildings which have had no investment in them for a very long time and was virtually derelict.
“Our decision to open another bar was the only way forward as you may have noticed a lot of shops are not viable with the likes of Tesco and online shopping being used more these days.
“More town centres are becoming places for leisure activates like cafes, bars and restaurants as opening a shop just isn’t profitable anymore.”
Mr Whittle told the hearing the new bar will create five new jobs in the area and provide a different offer to the nightclub scene already present in the town.
After agreeing to be licensed until 1.30am from Thursday to Saturday and until 1am on other days, with a closure time 30 minutes after, the panel, chaired by Cllr Helen Bowden, decided to approve the application.