Greek food stall banned from late opening plus busker faces legal action over noise concerns in city centre

Greek Grill House in Great Northern Square has been refused a late night licence - as a meeting heard a busker has faced legal action over late night noise.
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A food stall in Manchester city centre has been stopped from staying open until 5am following fears it would become a ‘destination’ for late night revellers leaving city centre clubs.

Greek Grill House in Great Northern Square has been refused a late night licence after both police and council officers objected to the application.

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Manchester city council says there are a ‘significant number’ of noise complaints about groups of people congregating around the Peter Street area after 2am.

Buskers have started performing in the city centre spot to make money from these people, according to the local authority, and one has faced legal action.

Turkish takeaway Hatty’s in Deansgate has been the subject of several complaints about double parking, car horns, screaming and shouting – but licensing officer Niall Johnson said other premises are also responsible.

Greek Grill House in Great Northern Square, Manchester Credit: GoogleGreek Grill House in Great Northern Square, Manchester Credit: Google
Greek Grill House in Great Northern Square, Manchester Credit: Google

What were the concerns raised?

He said: “From 2am until 4am, the primary goal for Manchester City Council and Greater Manchester Police is the safe, expedient, quiet egress out of the city centre of people back home.

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“After 2 o’clock, we receive a significant number of police complaints.

“They’re not specific to a certain premises – they are specific to that particular area of Peter Street.

“Sometimes they complain about bars or clubs, but when we go down there, it’s noise from several different premises, from groups of people congregating.

“We’ve recently had to start taking legal action on buskers who have started coming into Great Northern Square specifically for these groups of people to make money.

“So we have to prohibit them from coming into the area.”

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The licensing officer argued that allowing the Greek Grill House to operate beyond 2am would exacerbate problems with public nuisance in the area.

Although there is no prohibition on busking past a certain time, noise abatement notices can be issued if the noise is causing a nuisance.

If the busker fails to comply, the case could end up in a magistrates court.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service understands that one noise abatement notice was issued to a busker in the area on 26 February.

What did the takeaway say?

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Speaking on behalf of Greek Grill House at a licensing hearing, Ann Ndlovu said the food stall was willing to reduce the requested opening hours to 4am.

But representing GMP, PC Alan Isherwood argued that the panel should still reject the late night licence application saying it would not be fair on residents.

He said: “What this will encourage, even if it goes back to 4am, it’s going to have people lying around longer than they would be now because there’s a focal point.

“People might just leave the clubs a couple of minutes early to get something to eat and then they just stand around eating the food, chatting, laughing, doing what people do on a night out because there’s more of a focal point there.

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“The other takeaways that are in that area that are open until 4am, they’re actually physical buildings where the staff and customers are inside so the noise breakout from those isn’t as noticeable as when people are inside.”

The licensing panel rejected the application at a hearing on Monday (4 April).

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