A new bar has been granted a licence to operate in Sea View Street, Cleethorpes.
The Maison de Muse is taking over the former home of Hideout, at the corner of the road. Councillors decided on its licence application after a resident and a Croft Baker Ward councillor raised public nuisance concerns. These focused on noise and pavement access impact.
The new outlet has styled itself as a coffee bar or bistro, not a general bar. It sought a licence for the sale of alcohol. It was stated at the licensing sub-committee meeting it would stock just one local beer brand.
Maison de Muse’s licence was granted with the hours Leicester-based Aucho Leisure Ltd had sought. This was to be able to sell alcohol from 8am to 10.30pm, and open to the public from 7am to 11pm.
Noise, planning and pavement concerns
Local resident Ron Nutting and Cllr Malcolm Morland spoke at the meeting. Both questioned whether the new enterprise will also need change of use planning permission.
“Why does the licensing sub-committee even consider these premises, because it hasn’t got any planning permission,” said Mr Nutting to Grimsby Live. In his submission, Mr Nutting thought it would need planning permission, despite a café to bar switch being ostensibly in the same sui generis use category.
“To go from a cafe to a bar is a substantial move,” said Cllr Morland. He confirmed, like Mr Nutting, the specific question of whether planning permission was also required was not clarified at the licensing meeting.
In its application, the Maison de Muse is described as “a well established Cafe/ Bistro” looking to expand and also sell local alcoholic products. Mr Nutting and Cllr Morland view it as a bar. “They keep saying it’s not going to be a bar. They’re still selling beer,” argued Mr Nutting.
Cllr Morland said it was heard at the meeting most drinks would be zero per cent alcohol, and only one type of beer sold. The licence conditions granted include a limit on alcohol sales to less than 5.6 per cent alcohol volume.
Mr Nutting’s other main concern was noise. There were 11 or 12 bars he said in Sea View Street and Cambridge Street. He claimed neighbours either side of him had moved because of the noise from bars, and it was “bad enough” already for him, given taxis at the weekend picked up and dropped off just outside his home.
“I’ve lived there for 55 years, why should I start to put up with more baggage now,” he said, noting the bars growth in Sea View Street has been in the last seven to nine years. “All customers will be reminded when leaving to respect the neighbours,” Maison de Muse’s application stated. Mr Nutting said he offered in the meeting a compromise to allow the licence, but with the former café’s opening hours.
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Cllr Morland raised on Mr Nutting’s behalf future possible furniture hindering pavement access outside. Particularly for those with prams or wheelchairs, because of the footpath’s limited width. “Some of the establishments put them out and they’ve not even checked,” Cllr Morland told Grimsby Live, of existing enforcement issues with bars lacking a street furniture licence.
The licence was granted as sought, and with conditions already agreed with Humberside Police. These include CCTV recording, an incident log, and signage requesting “customers respect the local residents and leave quietly”.
Mr Nutting was disappointed. “If I had any confidence at all in planning enforcement team or environmental health, perhaps I would not be as concerned as I am,” he said, concerned about enforcement if noise becomes an issue. “I understand Mr Nutting’s frustrations and I was frustrated with that meeting,” said Cllr Morland.
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