East Leeds pub wants longer opening hours despite ‘swearing and fighting’ claims

This will be music to the ears of some, but bad news for others, as the council received letters both in support and against the proposals from locals and regulars.

The application is to extend the start time for sale of alcohol each day to 10am-11pm on Sunday, 10am-11.30pm on Monday to Wednesday and 10am-midnight on Thursday to Saturday. It also includes a request to serve late night refreshment (hot food and drinks) until midnight on Thursday-Saturday.

The application has split local opinion massively with numerous residents both in support of, and against, the application.

One letter sent to the council’s licensing department claimed local residents were already being disturbed by the pub users standing outside and partaking in “swearing, public urination, fighting and consuming drugs on a regular basis”.

It added: “As a group of residents, we understand the pub has been here for a long time but due to the smoking ban it is forcing the pub users to come outside the pub to smoke causing residents to have to put up with antisocial behaviour.

“I feel with the proposed new licensing hours it will only exacerbate the antisocial behaviour by allowing people to drink alcohol for longer and also attracting more late night drinking.”

Another letter claimed many of the drinkers were not local, adding: “The neighbourhood has suffered somewhat in recent years due to major incidents, and although the majority of residents are law abiding, mortgage paying people, if this extension is agreed, it will have a severe detrimental effect on the residents.”

One letter claimed they felt “powerless” to prevent their children from being subjected to “very loud bad language”.

However, the application was also subject to numerous letters of support, with many claiming the pub had improved over recent years. These letters were sent via the applicant.

“The Orchard in the last three years I have attended has been an enjoyable experience where I have been able to socialise with friends, help raise valuable funds for charity, and offered support in helping to sell raffle tickets for events,” one claimed.

“I would not visit an establishment where I would not feel safe under any circumstances. Whilst many of the local residents may not favour the establishment due to their beliefs that the pub attracts unsavoury characters, they themselves have not visited, partaken or enjoyed the experience.”

Another said they and their family had enjoyed visiting the pub, adding: “I am deeply saddened and troubled that concerns have been raised which is not a true reflection from the local people on Dib Lane and around.

“I understand all pubs attract a wide variety of people which is a normal part of life. I however am open to diversity, non judgemental (sic) and feel that equality is an essential part of community living.”

The application had received objections from both West Yorkshire Police and Leeds City Council’s licensing department, due to concerns around the possibility for noise and antisocial behaviour.

However, both the police and the council’s licensing department have since withdrawn their objections due to the owners agreeing to their terms.

The council report went on to list three complaints at the pub that enforcement officers had dealt with since 2016.

On August 22, 2016 the council’s entertainment licensing section received a complaint from a local resident via a local councillor, alleging antisocial behaviour and noise nuisance.

Residents were sent noise diaries to complete, but were not returned, meaning the complaint was eventually closed in October that year.

In August 2018, entertainment licensing received a complaint claiming

noise nuisance from car stereos and from people drinking in the car park of the pub.

The report added that the complaint was closed after the complainant agreed the problem had improved.

Leeds City Council’s licensing sub-committee will meet to discuss the application on Tuesday, August 11.