An 'upmarket cocktail bar and live music venue' is set to open in Witney town centre.

Blind Tiger Bar Ltd have been given permission by West Oxfordshire District Council's licensing committee to open its doors in premises formerly occupied by Joules clothes store at 8 Market Square.

But in objection comments, neighbours alleged the alleyway and car park near the new bar are already frequently used by drunks for urinating, being sick and to have sex.

In a licensing application, the owner said: "The Blind Tiger will be a new upmarket cocktail and live music venue based on the main high street within Witney close to other licensed venues. We hope to join the local pub watch at the soonest convenience.

It added: "The aim is to offer a lively but friendly atmosphere offering a range of alcoholic drinks including draught beer, cocktails, wines, spirits and softs, with robust staff training in responsible bar tendering as well as SIA approved door staff for busier period.

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"We hope to offer a small food offering of grazing boards and operate strictly within all four licensing objectives. We wish to include off-sales to be used for potential delivery apps. We also hope to apply for a pavement licence in the future."

The bar will be open from 12 midday to midnight Sunday to Wednesday and from midday to 2am Thursday to Saturday.

Entertainment will include recorded music or live music, including piano, saxophonists, singers, guitarists and DJs.

But there were two objection comments to the licensing plans.

Gemma Nolan wrote: "Witney Market Square is already rife with late-night antisocial and violent behaviour, fights, injuries and regular police intervention. Our streets and alleys are treated badly by drunken bar patrons with vomit, urine and broken glass everywhere by morning.

"The building in question adjoins and shares passage with 10 residences where children live. The impact is not reasonable or safe with loud late night music, increased trespassing and a backdoor giving even more access to the residential area. This is already a problem area and the addition of another bar would only worsen things."

And Robert Shelley wrote: "To add another premise to this small area of town is to create a triangle of disruption, antisocial behaviour and violence. As I write this on Weds morning, just last night an incident occurred which required three police vehicles and a manhunt for a suspect who had appeared to glass someone literally outside where this new bar would be.

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"In addition to these regular violent incidents, the alley way to the side of the new bar and the rear parking area are frequently used by drunk people as a public latrine, a vomitorium and in one incident a few month back somewhere to have fully naked drunken sex."

Witney Town Council said it welcomed a new live music venue in the town but had some concerns about noise on neighbouring properties and wanted them directly contacted about the licence application.

The licensing application says the bar will have legally licensed door staff member on Thursday, Friday and Saturday past 10pm if it is to remain open past midnight and a written dispersal policy will be in effect, ensuring that at the end of an evening customers are reminded to respect neighbours and keep the noise down as they leave. 

 

 

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