Licence approved for second venue

Councillors approved the application for the Stone Grill restaurant which hotelier David Davies plans to open in the Belgrave Madison Hotel on Queens Promenade, Blackpool.

He already operates a Stone Grill restaurant at the North Ocean Hotel on the Promenade.

A town hall panel granted a licence until midnight seven days a week. and until 2am on New Year’s Eve.

They imposed conditions including that performance of live music be restricted to six occasions per year and residents must be given a number they can call 24 hours a day in the event of any nuisance caused by the premises.

In a statement accompanying the decision, the panel said they “carefully considered the concerns expressed by the residents”, but Mr Davies “appeared to be a responsible operator” and they felt the conditions would ensure the licensing objectives were met.

The statement added: “The applicant explained that they already operated one premises in Blackpool as a Stone Grill and due to its success they wanted to expand.

“The premises subject of today’s application would be operated as a hotel with associated accommodation following extensive refurbishment, there would be approximately 120 covers and food would be served until approximately 9m to 9.45pm.”

But people living nearby had submitted formal objections to the application for a licence.

Among the concerns they raised was that people leaving the venue late at night would create unacceptable disturbance to a higher level than if the premises was just a hotel.

But the council said it would monitor the situation and if the conditions were not met they could bring the applicant back before a licensing panel.

A planning application has also been submitted for refurbishment work.