Pub that became church gets new alcohol licence

The former Rose and Crown pub was used as a church after its previous licence was surrendered in 2023

A community pub which closed and was then used as a church is set to reopen as a drinking venue after a new premises licence was granted.

The former Rose and Crown in Burmantofts was given permission to serve alcohol by Leeds City Council.

The building, on Rigton Drive, was last used by Loveworld Leeds Central Church following the pub's closure.

Plans to reopen it as a pub drew objections after the applicant, Mereb Properties Yorkshire, sought permission to serve alcohol until 05:00, but this has since been revised.

The new licence was granted after last orders were restricted to 23:00 between Sunday and Thursday, and 23:30 on Fridays and Saturdays.

The licence application said football matches would be screened at the premises.

It said: "This will be a family-orientated pub which will sell food and also alcoholic beverages alongside hot and cold meals.

"We will have an outside seating area for customers to enjoy the food and drinks."

A licensing sub-committee was told the previous premises licence was surrendered by the licence holder in October 2023.

The new application initially drew 28 objections, with concerns raised over potential crime and disorder.

Ward councillors opposed the opening times as originally applied for, saying there were problems with street drinking and anti-social behaviour in the area.

But reduced hours and measures to prevent public nuisance were agreed with West Yorkshire Police and the council's environmental health team, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

A licensing report said noise from the premises should not be audible after 23:00 in nearby homes.

The applicant agreed to no external loudspeakers and no use of the outside area after 21:00, except for smoking.

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