A COULSDON bar is asking permission to sell alcohol into the early hours two days a week – 14 months after it dropped plans for an even later licence fearing a community backlash.
Frames Sports Bar in Brighton Road has applied to the council to serve drinks until 2am on Saturdays, and 1am on Thursdays, and to play live music until 2am at weekends.
The snooker venue already has the area's latest licence, at 12.30am, and owner Mehmet Akis says it has been selling later than that on temporary licences.
Mr Akis said the extensions would be for an over-30s night on Saturdays that has proved popular, and for snooker tournaments on Thursdays.
He said: "We are going to be holding on a regular basis an over-30s night for the older, respectable crowd and people that appreciate the venue, rather than the younger lot.
"We feel there is a gap in the market, and the older lot have not really got a lot of places to go and enjoy. We have a respectful clientele and a minimum of four door supervisors.
"We have had three or four [over-30s nights] already and they have run very smoothly."
He said the live music licence request was in case clients hosting birthday parties wanted a live band, adding: "We want to be more of a family place, to have a venue for parties."
Mr Akis dropped a bid for a 3am, seven-day-a-week licence in November 2011 amid resistance from the community.
Nearby residents and shopkeepers had raised fears over noise levels and customers' behaving badly at the end of nights out.
Mr Akis said last week: "We do not want to upset anyone, because this is our neighbourhood and that is the last thing we would like to do."
Shirley Leyland, secretary of the Coulsdon Comrades Club, next door to Frames, said the group would oppose the new application.
She said: "When they leave the building they make a lot of noise. You cannot just go out and start telling them to be quiet. It would be the only one open that late and it is just not that kind of area."
David England, 50, who lives in Brighton Road a few doors from the club, said the venue had not caused him any problems.
He said: "There were a couple of problems up there a few years ago but they seem to have nipped that in the bud. I did not hear a thing from them on Saturdays – even though I saw the amps and speakers.
"The worst we have heard is the front door opening and closing – I think it is broken."
