A cocktail bar in the centre of Bath will be able to stay open until 3am throughout the week despite neighbours’ warnings it will contribute to “disruption”.
Raincheck opened on George Street in 2022, which was 18 years after the original bar on Monmouth Street closed, as a “stylish high-end cocktail bar”.
But a bid by the bar to get permission from Bath & North East Somerset Council to stay open later on Monday, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays was met with concern by neighbours.
Currently, the bar is only licensed until 3am from Thursday to Saturday, closing at 1am on other weeknights.
No change was proposed to the bar’s Sunday hours, when it closes at 12am, except to let it stay open until 3am on New Year’s Eve even if it falls on a Sunday, such as this year.
Simon Merriweather, who lives near the bar, submitted an objection to the application to the council’s licensing committee.
He said: “At some point it is necessary to say that there are enough hospitality premises operating into the early hours in such density and in close proximity to residents.
“I count 10 late night premises operating in George Street in the narrow stretch from Gay Street to just beyond Broad Street.”
Malcolm Balwin, chair of the Circus Area Residents Association, also submitted an objection, stating: “At the moment such residents, living particularly in apartments immediately neighbouring the Raincheck premises and other local community residents are at least able to ‘enjoy’ relatively quieter and not extended activity from this establishment during the earlier period of the week.”
Addressing the licensing committee as they met to make their decision, agent for Raincheck, Terrill Wolyn, said that the extension of hours was at the request of patrons who did not want to leave so early.
She said: “These are professional people who may not want to be part of the night time scene.”
She added that no objections to the application had been made by the police or environmental protection, and there had never been any significant complaints about Raincheck.
Manager Ricky Simms added: “We try to create an environment where its very relaxed, not too loud. Everyone can still talk across the music. We don’t have a dancing area.”
Ms Wolyn added: “It’s not like a club.” She said that music would be stopped at 2am to allow the place to “wind down.”
Councillors granted the extension to the hours, stating: “Members were satisfied, on the evidence that they had heard and read, it would not add to the cumulative impact.”
Owner Andrew McGonigle said the decision was “good news.”
John Wimperis, Local Democracy Reporter
