Protest at pub's street tables plan
1:30pm Tuesday 20th February 2007 in Your Town By Staff Reporter
A plan to bring continental-style cafe culture to Bolton town centre by placing tables and chairs outside a popular pub has been met with protest.
Bosses at The Varsity in Churchgate asked Bolton Council for permission to put patio-style furniture outside.
But a local trader fears the move could lead to a rise in anti-social behaviour if the proposal is approved.
Marie Walsh, from Ye Olde Pastie Shoppe, next door but one to the pub, said: "We already have problems at the weekends and have to clean outside the shop.
"We thought the idea of the new pavement was to allow street markets and medieval type events, not for open-air drinking.
The bar has submitted a planning application to Bolton Council for five tables and chairs with barriers to form an enclosure.
What do you think about pubs having Continental cafe-style tables in the street? Give us your opinion in the Comment box at the end of this report
The Varsity is open until midnight during the week, and 1am on Friday and Saturday nights. The outside area will be closed before the pub shuts, but a time has not been confirmed.
If the proposal is given the go-ahead company bosses say it will create up to 12 jobs.
A spokesman for Barracuda Group, which owns the bar, said: "We have discussed the application with police and explained how the policy will be operated.
"There have not been many incidents of anti-social behaviour at this pub and the police don't have any objections at this stage.
"The council's objective is to create a cafe culture in the town and this would be in line with that."
Peter Green, who lives next door to the Varsity, said: "The pub already has a beer garden so I don't understand why this is needed.
"Drinking in the street has been stopped, but this just seems like a way to bring it in through the back door.
