ONE of Liverpool’s best known nightspots, Alma De Cuba, is facing opposition to extending its opening hours to 4am, with police reporting 22 crimes on the premises in the past year.
Currently the converted St Peter’s Church in Seel Street is licensed to serve drinks until 2am.
The council’s licensing and gambling committee will meet on Monday to decide whether the application by the owners of the premises should be granted.
Merseyside Police has called on the committee to refuse the application.
Thefts
Alma De Cuba falls within what is known as the Ropewalks Cumulative Impact Area, an initiative introduced by the council to control and limit licensed premises in certain areas. The Cavern Quarter is also covered by the policy.
Police say in the past year there have been 21 recorded thefts and one assault at Alma De Cuba.
“We consider that grant of this licence will add to the cumulative impact in that area and that this application should be refused,” say Merseyside Police in their submission to the committee.
The council’s planning department also says the two-hour extension should be opposed because of the detrimental impact it would have on surrounding residences.
Planning officer Barbara Richards says the council would not wish to set a precedent by relaxing the principle of bars and restaurants in Ropewalks having to close at 2am. The 2am policy was introduced some years ago – and confirmed on appeal – to balance the council’s desire to achieve and maintain a high quality residential environment within what is a mixed use area of the city centre.
On Tuesday the committee sits again to review the premises licence for Avesta – formerly known as Vooo - at 62 Mount Pleasant in the city centre.
A report to the committee says the grounds for the review are that the premises is failing in its duty to prevent crime and disorder by allowing the smoking of shisha pipes in an area deemed as indoors.
Avesta
In addition “the keeping of smuggled goods on the premises is likely to materially distort the economic behaviour of the average customer”, adds the report.
Currently Avesta is licensed for live and recorded music and dance performances up to midnight early weekdays, and until 2am Thursday to Saturdays.
The committee has the authority to suspend or revoke the licence or order management changes. It could also decide to take no action, depending on what is said at the meeting.
