A Manchester restaurant where inspectors found "rats running about the place" could lose its premises licence next week, following a licensing hearing at the council.
Police and council inspection
Officers from Greater Manchester Police (GMP) and Manchester City Council visited Beilul Lounge on Wilmslow Road in March and discovered serious concerns about its operation. A GMP officer reported finding no staff present, with members of the public serving themselves, and a woman sleeping upstairs who later claimed no involvement with the premises. The manager gave her name as an employee, but no staff records were kept. Large amounts of garbage and vermin, including rats, were also found on the premises.
Licence holder change refused
The July 27 hearing was held because Beilul Lounge had applied to change the premises licence holder, currently named as Mr Mehari Kesete in a council report. Mr Kesete did not attend the hearing. A representation on behalf of the applicant for the new licence argued that the previous licence holder's history should not affect the new applicant, who was experienced and had no connection to past breaches. However, the council refused the request to change the premises licence holder.
Next hearing and manager response
A second hearing next week will review the restaurant's premises licence, with the possibility of revocation. The restaurant's manager, Merhawi Brhoe, denied the issues inside the premises, stating, "The last two months I've been doing all I can do. There might be rats outside, this is Wilmslow Road, but not inside the premises." He added that pest control visits monthly and cleaning is done regularly, with no customer complaints.
