A brand new independent music venue is set to open in Bracknell town centre, as plans for nights until 2am have been agreed.
The Musica Group will be taking over the former TGI Fridays restaurant in Eagle Lane at The Lexicon, which closed last October.
The company will transform the unit into a live music, karaoke and entertainment venue.
Karim Saykali and consultant Michael Watson submitted a licensing application to open until 2am on Friday and Saturday nights, 1.30am on Thursdays and 12.30am the rest of the week.
Guests will be able to eat and drink at the venue, as well sing, dance, play games and more.
However, the application faced objections from neighbours who were concerned about noise, triggering a meeting of Bracknell Forest Council’s Licensing Panel.
Concern was particularly expressed from residents of Eagle House, the apartments directly above the former TGI Fridays unit and Giggling Squid, which closes at 10.30pm each night.
H Wood said: “It’s not necessarily what’s going on in the indoor space, but if the venue is open until 2am regularly, two times a week, I just don’t think it’s realistic to expect people who have been consuming alcohol and in a loud venue to leave and disperse quietly.
“It doesn’t happen too often at the moment but when people do leave having been out, it is quite disruptive, it wakes you up, we’ve got families living in the block of flats.”
She then argued that Musica staff would be unable to control noise disturbance at departure times, including when people get taxis in the High Street.
Fellow resident Rebecca said: “The main thing is one word, noise. As it is, there is a lot of noise and anti-social behaviour at night, but The Bull opposite is only until 11pm.
“My biggest concern is noise, people coming and going, anti-social behaviour, and people loitering.”
She also questioned whether noise would be monitored on a regular basis.
Another neighbour Rich said: “As a resident, and on behalf of the other residents who can’t be here, while we understand the value of filling the retail spaces and appreciate the applicant’s desire to establish a business, we believe that the current proposal is simply too different and impactful compared to the previous establishment and other establishments.”
Defending the application, Marcus Lavelle, the advocate for Musica Group said: “We are absolutely in line with the vision for the area.
“Everything in this area was designed to be hospitality-led at ground floor level to drive interest in the area, and actually provide the town centre with a hospitality district.”
Ultimately, the panel of three councillors decided to grant the application with conditions.
Cllr Nick Allen (Conservative, Owlsmoor & College Town) noted that other pubs and restaurants have permissions to open until 1am, although not currently used.
He mentioned that off-licence sales of alcohol will be banned, and that the outside seating area must not to be used after 11pm, with the exception of the smoking area.
Staff must also conduct patrols of the area after 11.30pm.
The decision was also made by cllrs Allen, Cherise Welch (Labour, Harmans Water & Crown Wood) and Moira Gaw (Conservative, Winkfield & Warfield East) yesterday (Thursday, June 26).
