Salford Council has approved a new restaurant and bar in Monton, despite local residents claiming the area has reached a 'tipping point' for noisy venues.
Zozo's, located on the corner of Monton Road and Highfield Drive, will be allowed to open from 8am for breakfast, play recorded music in its basement on weekends, and introduce a 'drink up period' at closing time. The decision comes after strong opposition from neighbours.
The eatery is due to open in the coming months, taking over the former Turkish restaurant Dino's.
Owner defends business model
Venue owner Zoe Brockman told a licensing hearing on Monday, August 10, that the nature of the business had been 'misunderstood' by neighbours, who feared it would reopen as a nightclub.
Mrs Brockman said: "This is not a drinking establishment. This is a premium restaurant and bar. It's not the case that there will be lots of drunken people around."
She added: "There's a dress code, we would be operating an exclusion policy and wouldn't let people in if we think they've already had too much to drink."
Residents voice concerns
The building already held a license to serve alcohol until midnight. However, an application to vary the licensing conditions initially requested permission for live music, dance and theatre performances, as well as film screenings and indoor sporting events. This was later amended to reflect local concerns, with no live performances and recorded music restricted to the basement.
Almost a dozen residents who opposed the application expressed frustration at the level of noise and anti-social behaviour already spilling onto their cul-de-sac from Monton's vibrant high street.
Laura Cannon, a local mum whose home borders the premises, said: "We've had the experience that people leaving venues just can't be controlled. We're already having to put up with so much noise and other issues, any more of it would just be unbearable."
She added: "It affects my children, who can't sleep because people are talking and slamming doors outside. I've had to move my daughter's bedroom because of the noise and I can't do the same for my son."
Toby Biollo, a local dad, said he was 'supportive of new restaurants on the high street' but that their worries about noise weren't just about live music.
"My concern is the impact on the children and families in the area. This venue is on a residential cul-de-sac, which is home to around nine families with kids as young as two," he said.
"My view is that even if customers behave really reasonably, people leaving the venue will make noise, talking to each other while they wait for taxis, slamming car doors and so on. That's going to disrupt our children's sleep."
Application approved
Councillors and officers reviewing the application decided that, as the opening hours were already in force, variations to the license such as the 'drinking up period' might help stagger customers leaving the premises, thereby reducing noise. They approved the application.
The venue's opening hours will remain from 8am to midnight Sunday to Thursday, and until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays, with a half-hour dispersal period after closing time.
