The COUNCIL is to consider a licence application for an Afro-Caribbean themed bar and restaurant in the town centre next week.

Plans were originally submitted in late 2019 to turn the former bar in Bradshawgate into a new establishment, with the owners submitting a licensing application on April 30 this year.

The application was submitted by a Hassam Abdullai to operate this new establishment as a grill restaurant and bar under the name Palladium.

This serves as a new location for Sparkles Bar, which was based in the Union Buildings off Bradshawgate, and was closed and relocated.

The owners hope to be able to open Palladium from Sunday to Friday until 11.30pm and to midnight on Saturday's.

The site in the past has operated as Zest Noodle bar and restaurant and as Spice Hut, the latter of which stayed open until 4.45am.

A number of objections to this licensing application have been lodged to the council, all of which will be considered at the upcoming committee meeting.

One letter, appearing to come from a landlord of local residents, said: "In the few months they have been open, during the current pandemic they have flagrantly ignored the restrictions placed upon them by Bolton Council.

"My tenant and several other residents have been forced to complain at the rowdiness, drunken behaviour, loud music and people defecating in Bollings Yard. All this has happened before they have a licence, I believe the consequences should they get one would be frightening.

"The bar is no more than 20 feet from the bedroom windows of my apartment and it will make it virtually impossible to achieve a nights uninterrupted sleep in winter with the windows closed, in summer my tenant will not be able to open the windows at all during opening hours."

Many of the letters of objection to the licensing application alleged that the bar stayed open into the early hours on a few occasions, in breach of its opening hours approved by council planners, and that the council had visited it after complaints from surrounding residents.

However, these allegations were not mentioned anywhere else in the council's documents.

The owners had originally planned to play amplified music and stay open until 4am on Saturday's and Bank Holidays, but this was denied by the council in the planning stages.

This licensing application is set to come before the council's licensing committee on Wednesday July 7.