Greggs gets green light for 24-hour opening

The branch opposite Newcastle Central Station can now open around-the-clock

Two branches of Greggs in a city centre will be allowed to stay open 24 hours a day despite concerns they could become a "focal point" for crime.

Newcastle Council has granted a new licence to extend the hours at the bakery chain's Grainger Street and Neville Street stores.

Northumbria Police had argued, during an earlier hearing, that it would encourage drunken people to stay in the city centre later.

But Greggs said it would take steps to ensure the 24/7 operation would not add to crime issues, and the licencing committee approved the application.

Greggs told the hearing it would take measures including having two door supervisors on duty from 22:00 to 05:00 and requiring some staff to wear body cameras.

Concerns were raised by public health officials that the new opening hours could contribute to obesity in the city, but it was argued that a nearby McDonalds was already open 24/7.

Set of conditions

The Local Democracy Reporting Service said the committee's decision notice described the applicant as a "nationally recognised, reputable and established operator who, as part of these applications, proposed a comprehensive set of conditions".

The conditions "exceed standard expectations, not only mitigating any potential negative cumulative impact in the area but also actively promoting the licensing objectives".

The committee thanked police for their evidence and noted that the majority of incidents recorded at the premises occurred outside the hours relevant to late-night refreshment.

It said most were reported by staff who were "complainants or victims".

"While a crime-free environment is ideal, the committee does not believe it is appropriate to penalise licence holders for responsibly reporting incidents, particularly when they or their staff are victims," it added.