Otley Run venue refused alcohol licence

Loungers UK want to open a new venue on the notorious Otley Run in Leeds

A bar and restaurant chain has been refused permission to sell alcohol at a new venue along the route of the Otley Run pub crawl.

Loungers UK applied for a licence to serve drinks from the site in Headingley Central, formerly the Arndale Centre, on Otley Road.

The company said it planned for the venue to be "food-led" and would not allow Otley Run participants.

However, the application was denied after Leeds City Council heard the Otley Run had led to problems such as urinating in the street and people having sex in public.

The empty unit in Headingley Central was a former Wilko shop

At a meeting on 12 December, the council said it had received 99 objections to the proposal and heard from residents and local councillors who described how large groups of people would descend on Headingley at weekends.

A report from the meeting said: "Following further consideration it was resolved to refuse the application."

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Loungers UK had been asked to only serve alcohol with food at the venue, but did not agree to the condition.

Concerns were also raised in the meeting that bars in the area were expanding to allow Otley Run drinkers.

The licensing report said: "Several licensed premises in Headingley have made changes to their business model and expanded to allow for participants of the Otley Run.

"Residents are concerned that the Loungers premises will become another drinking establishment on Saturdays to allow for Otley Run participants."

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