A restaurant wanting a licence to sell alcohol and play music has sparked concern over mention of ‘nudity and striptease’.
La Buka African Restaurant, situated between Harpurhey and Moston, has been accused of copy and pasting their application from another restaurant by Greater Manchester Police, leading to concerns over their competency. Applicant Fatai Babajide Ajose will need to convince the Licensing Sub Committee in Manchester Town Hall on Tuesday as to why the Moston Lane venue should be allowed to sell alcohol and play background music.
GMP and other authorities believe the request is confused as it mentions proposals for ‘queueing areas’, ‘nudity and striptease’ as well as use of a garden which appears nonexistent on the site map.
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A representation from GMP said: “GMP are concerned that the applicant has very limited understanding of the four licensing objectives and that little thought has gone into the application, as the conditions proposed appear to have been directly copied from those on another licence. GMP are also concerned that the applicant has seen fit to propose conditions regarding the performance of nudity and striptease when the application states that there will be no relevant entertainment and is described as a restaurant.”
Manchester City Council’s licensing team have recommended refusal on this item alongside GMP after explaining the application ‘lacks consistency, and does not make clear the intended use of the premises’.
Additionally, there will be two other items on the agenda at the licensing hearing which have also created a stir from police and locals.
The NIAMOS Arts and Cultural Centre in Hulme are seeking a temporary licence to sell alcohol and play music for a special event on June 9. The Chichester Road site says this is for a ‘World music night’ event.
GMP have asked the Licensing Sub Committee to refuse this application because recent events held at the premises “have caused severe disruption and disturbance to local residents”, according to a council report. The force representative went on to say that to allow this event to take place would cause an ‘unnecessary level of disturbance to the local residents and would therefore impinge on their quality of life.’
Also up for consideration at the hearing is the licence for an annual outdoor public event for up to 4,999 people on the playing fields of Didsbury Sports Ground during Summer months. The proposed application has drawn 44 objection letters all concerning the potential for litter, excess noise and public nuisance from large crowds coming and going from the Ford Lane venue.
The Licensing Sub Committee will hear representations about all three separate applications in Manchester Town Hall on May 30 and make then their decision.
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