Renovation plan for bar which nearly lost licence

JK's Bar nearly had its licence revoked following a series of complaints

The owners of a bar which almost lost its licence earlier this year have applied for permission to renovate the building.

Northern Bay Leisure’s application said the plans include installing a new shop front on JK’s Bar, in Wellington Road, Whitby.

Earlier this year North Yorkshire Police had applied for JK’s to have its licence revoked after a series of complaints.

The force withdrew its concerns when the previous owners sold the bar.

The new owner, Russell Vickers, from Northern Bay Leisure, assured the council that the premises would remain closed until improvements were made.

He said there would be investment in the bar and an entirely new staff, adding that the bar would be renamed.

However, details of the new name are not included in the submitted plans, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRs).

Under the plans, the current timber-framed shop front could be removed and replaced with new aluminium powder-coated frame doors.

The property, which is located in Whitby’s conservation area, may also potentially get windows at the front of the bar.

The application states this had been “carefully considered” and that plans would “not have an adverse impact on the surrounding area”.

North Yorkshire Police had raised concerns about how the bar had been operated in the past and had in its application to revoke the licence said the owners had shown a “complete disregard” for residents and the authorities.

It withdrew its request for a licence review after the sale of the bar was completed.

North Yorkshire Council has not set a date for deciding on the application, which is currently pending consideration.

Follow BBC Yorkshire on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [e-mail]