Hulme Spar gets later hours despite objections

An off-licence in Hulme has been given permission to stay open until the early hours of the morning despite concerns that it will exacerbate antisocial behaviour issues in the area.

The Spar on the corner of Stretford Road and Newcastle Street applied to Manchester council to extend its opening hours from 7am to midnight seven days a week to 3am.

Bosses also sought permission to sell alcohol and late night refreshment, such as hot dogs, tea and coffee, during the same hours.

Licensing officers had been told that the move would help the owner ‘diversify’ the business and attract more custom in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Manchester’s licensing subcommittee agreed to the new licence but only until 1am after hearing objections from Greater Manchester Police, councillors and residents.

Almost 30 people living in the neighbouring Loxford Court estate also signed a petition opposing the application, which was considered at a hearing on Monday (July 5).

PC Alan Isherwood, from GMP’s licensing unit, told the committee that the extension would be ‘excessive’ for premises located beneath, opposite and adjacent to residential properties.

“At these times of the morning the background noise from nearby roads is greatly diminished so any noise from customers or their vehicles will carry much further and appear to be much louder than at other times,” he said.

“If the applicant was only seeking the earlier hours then GMP wouldn’t have an issue.

“But the later hours they are seeking are likely to cause an unacceptable level of disturbance to persons living right on top of the premises.”

The council’s licensing and out of hours team (LOOHT) pointed out that the shop was located within a highly-populated area which includes student accommodation.

Officers said the later hours would attract more customers as other premises in the area offering food and alcohol would be closed.

Residents have also made ‘numerous’ complaints to the council about antisocial behaviour and noise nuisance from students, particularly those staying at the Manchester Metropolitan University’s Birley Fields halls of residence nearby.

A licensing officer’s report to the committee said: “LOOHT believe granting his licence variation could cause further noise and antisocial behaviour issues in the area, especially when student go to buy food and alcohol from the premises in the early mornings or late at night.”

Similar concerns were raised by Hulme councillors Lee-Ann Igbon and Annette Wright in their objections to the application.

Coun Igbon said Stretford Road ‘has issues with crime, drug dealing and is a known criminal area’ and that having any premises open later ‘adds to the issues in the area’.

In their application to the council, the Spar’s manager described the premises as a ‘well-established convenience store that provides a service to local residents’.

They added: “The owner needs to diversify the business and in doing so wants longer trading hours.

“There have never been any problems at the shop and the owner wants to extend the times the business can open to customers to improve business following the Covid pandemic.”