Concern over cocktail bar plan on pub crawl route

The Reserve Cocktail Bar owners say Otley runners would not be allowed in

Several objections have been lodged against plans to open a new cocktail bar close to the start of a popular pub crawl.

Leeds City Council has been asked to grant a premises licence for The Reserve at 96 Otley Road, Headingley.

If approved the venue would be allowed to open until 23:00 from Monday to Thursday, midnight on Fridays and Saturdays and 22:00 on Sundays.

Objectors claim rowdy behaviour along the Otley Run has a "profound" impact on the quality of life for residents, though the applicants say people taking part would not be allowed in.

The licence application said: "We intend to establish an up-scale neighbourhood cocktail bar on the ground floor of the building, offering a refined yet welcoming atmosphere for the local community."

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the operators said they had a "wealth" of experience from working in prestigious venues including London's Savoy Hotel.

The 17-stop Otley Run attracts thousands of people to the area

A licensing sub-committee will consider the application at a hearing at Leeds Civic Hall on 12 August.

A report to the meeting said concerns were raised by ward councillors and eight people living near the venue, close to pubs Woodies and the Three Horseshoes.

Objectors described witnessing rowdy and intimidating weekend behaviour from participants on the Otley Run.

One said: "The adverse impact on the amenity and quality of life of local residents is now profound."

However, the applicant has offered a list of conditions to prevent nuisance behaviour.

"We will not allow anyone who is in fancy dress, part of the Otley Run or is already intoxicated as this is not the style of what we are wanting to offer, and also to prevent public nuisance," they said.

Alcohol would only be served with food and there would be no outside drinking area at the front of the premises.

The Reserve Cocktail Bar Ltd has also lodged a change-of-use planning application for the premises, a former massage shop.

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