St James' Park fanzone 'putting city pubs at risk'

St James' Stack is drawing drinkers away from other venues, bar chiefs say

An alliance of more than 100 bars and pubs has mounted a legal challenge against a fanzone outside a football ground - warning it is endangering the future of other venues.

Earlier this summer, the 2,000-capacity Stack outside Newcastle's St James' Park was granted a five-year extension to its planning permission by the city council which will allow it to remain open until 2031.

Businesses uniting under the banner of the newly formed NE1 Hospitality Group say it is taking trade away from them at a time when hospitality is already struggling.

The council said it cannot regulate competition and that it would not be grounds to refuse planning permission. Stack has been approached for comment.

An application has been made for a High Court judicial review of the council's decision to extend the planning permission, which the NE1 Hospitality Group believes is "unlawful".

Judicial reviews can only be used to challenge the legality of a planning decision that has been made, not the merits of the application in question.

Hospitality bosses are angry the decision to extend Stack's temporary planning permission was made by council officers rather than being put before elected politicians who sit on the authority's planning committee, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

'Fighting for survival'

A spokesperson for the alliance said: "The fanzone is drawing trade away from the very venues that helped build Newcastle's reputation for hospitality. We're not against progress but it must be fair and sustainable.

"Several major venues have already closed this year. Investment is drying up. Jobs are under threat. And the council seems unwilling to listen.

"This Judicial review is a last resort, but we cannot allow the voices of local businesses to be drowned out."

Barry Ladhar, whose Ladhar Group counts Pleased To Meet You and Lady Greys among its portfolio, said that rather than being "golden days for local hospitality ... last season showed that trade is being diverted to the fanzone".

Tommy Byron, of the Dog and Parrot bar on Clayton Street West, warned venues were "fighting for survival".

Ollie Vaulkhard says Stack is taking away thousands of pounds of business each week

Vaulkhard Group boss Ollie Vaulkhard, whose venues include the Town Wall and Bridge Tavern pubs, described his business as suffering "a steady erosion of income" and argued "growth should benefit the whole city, not just one mega-venue".

There are 175 people employed at Stack, which is built from 56 repurposed shipping containers.

The venue welcomed 35,000 people during Sam Fender's concerts at St James' Park this summer - about a fifth of the total number of people who attended the three gigs.

The council said it wanted to "work with businesses to ensure Newcastle continues to thrive as a hub for hospitality" and had "agreed to meet a number ... who had raised concerns around pressures on the hospitality industry".

However, it said that meeting had to be postponed when it became aware legal proceedings were to be launched because it would not be possible to discuss the issues.

"While we understand and recognise the concerns raised, as a council we cannot regulate competition in the city centre and that would not be grounds to refuse a planning application," it added.

Newcastle United were contacted for a response.