A new pool bar on a busy Hereford street has been granted a drinks licence despite local concerns.

The newly fitted-out Novello’s Pool Bar & Sports Loft on Commercial Street had sought a licence for a “pool venue with a bar with occasional live and recorded music”.

Press and public were excluded from the testimony and deliberations of Herefordshire Council’s licensing subcommittee yesterday (January 16) for legal reasons, as these were judged likely to reveal personal information or information relating to a criminal investigation.

Following this, the committee agreed to approve the application subject to revised conditions, previously agreed between the applicants, the police and trading standard officers.

These include the installation and use of CCTV, the keeping of an incidents log and register of those refused bar service, a “Challenge 25” age verification policy, staff training and measures to minimise noise. Children under 11 must also be accompanied in the venue by an adult at all times.

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Neighbouring the bar, Close House, a charity which supports vulnerable and socially excluded young people, had said it feared that approving the bar would have such a negative impact on its clients that it would be forced to shut.

Chairman Coun Paul Andrews said the subcommittee “has taken into full account written representations and information presented today and fully recognise the concerns raised and the reasons for them.

“However the subcommittee considers that with the agreed conditions, the application will promote the licensing objectives.”

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