Plans for lounge bar beneath apartment block in Birmingham approved

There were fears that residents would be put off by late night noise.

But licensing chiefs in Birmingham gave the green light to Wutong Limited to open a "lounge" venue in Masshouse Plaza, intended to cater mainly for the city’s Chinese community.

One neighbour had objected to the venue’s proposed 1.30am weekend opening hours, and also suggested the venue could attract crime and antisocial behaviour.

But the city council has now published a decision from the councillors on the sub-committee to grant the lounge bar a premises licence.

The permission comes under conditions including that the sale of alcohol and refreshments stop at 1am on weekend nights and the venue must close to the public at 1.30am.

The venue is planned to open in one of the units on the ground floor of the tower block, next to other businesses including Papa John’s pizza and a Spar shop.

The decision notice states: "Other licensed premises in the vicinity operated to a far later hour – some of them even to 4am.

"Moreover the premises was to be a lounge-style venue for the Chinese community; it was therefore entirely different from a traditional public house or nightclub, and not particularly likely to give rise to noise or antisocial behaviour.

"The sub-committee therefore concluded that any adverse impact on the licensing objectives from Phoenix, particularly the likelihood of public nuisance, was not a risk, even within the Digbeth Cumulative Impact Zone [where granting of further licences is discouraged].

"After examining the operating schedule and proposed conditions in detail the sub-committee found the applicant to be suitable and therefore resolved to grant the application to the hours which had been agreed between the applicant and West Midlands Police.

"Members also considered that the further conditions suggested by the police were a sensible measure; they were therefore added as licence conditions."

The sub-committee was chaired by Councillor Philip Davis and also included Councillor Mary Locke and Councillor Bob Beauchamp.