Popular Thai chain to open third Manchester restaurant after council approval - when it could open

A popular Thai restaurant chain will be coming to West Didsbury following approval from the licensing sub-committee in Manchester.

My Thai’s application originally attracted dozens of complaints from locals, the licensing team and Greater Manchester Police. The Burton Road site, the former home of The Chippy, was hoping to get a licence to serve alcohol between 11.30am and 11pm – but has compromised, leading to GMP and the licensing team to withdraw their objections.

The biggest point of contention for objectors was around the time in which alcohol would be served till – but a compromise saw approval of the new end point set at 10.30pm. The new Burton Road site will become My Thai’s third restaurant in Manchester – with two sites already present in John Dalton Street and the Northern Quarter in the city centre. The new restaurant is expected to open early in 2024.

Glyn Goodwin, My Thai’s director in attendance at the meeting in Manchester Town Hall, opened his statement by saying there was an ‘error in the application’, and there was no intention to play music outside the venue, just to simply provide background restaurant music. The Didsbury West councillor, Coun John Leech proposed an earlier closure time in order to prevent excess noise in the later hours – which was accepted by Mr Goodwin.

Coun Leech explained that an earlier closure time would allow for ‘a period of drinking up’ and reduce the risk of disturbance for neighbours living in close proximity to the restaurant. Another point of scrutiny of the application was the potential for music to disturb the more residential part of Burton Road.

In their objection letter, the West Didsbury Residents Association said: “Other local licensed establishments have restrictions in place which limit the playing of both live and recorded music at all times when any doors or windows are open which includes bifold / folding doors. These restrictions are to protect neighbour amenity with respect to noise and disturbance and this includes children studying at the school (nearby).”

Coun Leech also proposed an earlier closure time of the bifold doors than 10pm, in order to reduce noise, but 10pm was deemed early enough for the sub-committee – who approved the application at the meeting on Monday.