A new Japanese-style bar and restaurant is opening in the centre of Bath, just a stone’s throw from Pulteney Bridge.
The new home of Budo Ba on Argyle Street | Photo © John Wimperis
Eleanor Lieper who owns the Grapes pub on Westgate Street is now expanding into another shop in the city, with plans to run it as an izakaya, a type of Japanese bar.
Budo Ba first opened as a pop-up upstairs at the Grapes but now will get its own premises at 3 Argyle Street.
But the pub landlady’s plans faced opposition from another landlady — the owner of the rented flat upstairs.
Speaking at a licensing hearing on 20th April, flat owner Suzanne Evans told members of Bath and North East Somerset Council’s licensing subcommittee: “I really do think it will be problematic for any tenant I have in that flat.”
The restaurant and bar will be a Japanese-style izakaya | Photo © John Wimperis
Ms Lieper applied for a licence from the council that would allow Budo Ba to show films and sell hot food and alcoholic drink until 11pm most days of the week, but until 1am Friday and Saturday “to meet customer expectation.”
Ms Evans asked that the izakaya be allowed to stay open past 11pm only a few times per year because she was concerned about noise disturbing her tenant in the flat upstairs.
She said: “If you want people to live in the city centre, it has to be made tolerant for them.”
Licensing agent for Ms Lieper, Terrill Wolyn proposed a condition that new patrons would not be admitted to the bar after 11.30pm to keep noise down.
She added that they were not applying for a licence to show films in order to become a cinema, but in order to play black and white Japanese silent films “to add to the ambience of the restaurant.”
Ms Lieper said: “This is a family-run business. It takes everything we have at the Grapes to get it together.”
Ms Evans said she was not opposed to the place opening and only wanted a “reasonable compromise.”
She added: “There’s no antipathy between us. […] I’m happy it’s somebody like her.”
The council granted the licence, allowing Budo Ba to open until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays as requested.
Speaking after the decision, Ms Lieper said: “We will absolutely remain friends.”
Budo Ba plans to open on 17th May.
John Wimperis, Local Democracy Reporter
