New Mediterranean restaurant will be allowed to serve alcohol

A new Mediterranean-style restaurant in Middleton has been told it will be allowed to serve booze to customers.

The venue, to be named Woodside when it opens, will now be able to provide ‘premium drinks’ including wine, cocktails and craft beer for punters following a licensing meeting.

The request to serve alcohol between 10am and 10.30pm stirred up objections from locals who feared the Manchester New Road venue in Alkrington could become a ‘hotspot for drugs and crime’.

This led to a meeting of the licensing sub-committee at Rochdale Borough Council.

Councillors Patricia Dale and June West attended the hearing at Number One Riverside on 2 October to express the concerns of local residents – believing this alcohol licence would give rise to anti-social behaviour.

Councillor Dale’s representation suggested that customers ‘spilling onto the busy main road in front of the premises’ could disturb locals. However, applicant Samuel Shepherd claimed these concerns would be relevant if this were a pub or a late night bar, but not a restaurant.

“Our venue is going to bring something different and something wanted in the area,” Mr Shepherd told the committee. “We wouldn’t be selling low price alcohol in high volumes which could encourage binge drinking.

“We are a restaurant, not a pub or a late night venue or bar. It would not encourage young people to hang out outside or deal drugs as some representations have suggested.”

When Councillor Phil Burke quizzed Councillor Dale and West, he asked whether the local ward representatives had had any report of drug use or antisocial behaviour in the area where the restaurant is planned. They both said there had been none reported.

Mr Shepherd went on to say that the restaurant would serve a series of small plates as well as boutique drinks for customers – bringing a style of eatery that Alkrington doesn’t currently have.

With the applicant was Helen Murden, who represented a group of locals who supported the plans. She explained that many people in the area believe this would prove to be a community asset and provide something different for the people in the area that would be an alternative to a pub.

“We all play a part contributing to Alkrington community life,” Mrs Murden explained. “We believe opening this would support this community.

“It would increase opportunities for local residents. A statement from a supporting resident said ‘Alkrington needs a venue for families to visit that isn’t a pub’.”

The neighbour to where the restaurant would be went on to say that this would create jobs, (10-15 jobs according to the owner) that would benefit young people in the area.

The applicant agreed to a number of conditions in order to uphold the licence conditions including CCTV in all areas, staff training and a facial recognition camera on the door to name just a few.

The restaurant has already received planning permission from the council to turn the former florist into a restaurant, so they can create the venue with the new alcohol licence straight away.

George Lythgoe, Local Democracy Reporter