4 days ago
- Business
- Belfast Telegraph
New Shankill open air events space will take hundreds off the street and stop ‘loitering'
Belfast City Council's Licensing Committee this week approved an application for a 14-day licence to provide outdoor musical entertainment for land adjacent to 352-358 Shankill Road – the former Shankill Northern Ireland Supporters Club.
The applicant is Warren McAdam, who runs the nearby Stadium Bar on the Shankill.
The council licensing report on the application states: 'The applicant has applied to provide entertainment in the form of live music, within an outdoor area. The site is adjacent to the former first Shankill NI Supporters Club, part of which has been demolished, creating additional outside space.
'Planning permission has recently been granted for refurbishment of the remaining building and a two storey side and rear extension to provide an upgraded bar, function room and restaurant. Therefore, it is envisaged that use of the site for outdoor entertainment will be for a limited timeframe.
'The applicant has confirmed that the intention is to provide local, all age, family one-day events, probably on a Saturday and running from approximately 13:00 to 23:00.'
It adds: 'The police have been consulted and have confirmed that they have no objection to the application.
"However, they request consideration of the following conditions being placed on the licence: (that) the licence holder takes positive steps to manage the premises responsibly in a peaceful and orderly manner, (and that there is) a robust complaints procedure in place for dealing with residents' concerns expeditiously.'
It states: 'The applicant has provided the (council) with a noise impact assessment report from an acoustic consultant for the outdoor area. This has been evaluated by our Environmental Protection Unit.
'The outcome of the evaluation has been a requirement that the applicant provide advanced notification to residents in the vicinity of the site when entertainment is to be provided. Such neighbourhood notification is a usual requirement for outdoor music events.'
At the monthly meeting of the council's Licensing Committee on Wednesday, Mr McAdam appeared before councillors.
He said: 'This application came about because we own the bar next door, broken up by Battenburg Street. The initial opening of the Whiterock Parade last year was really good for business, but it caused a lot of traffic issues – we had hundreds trying to get into our bar, which we had no room for.
'We were waiting on the application for the new restaurant and bar, which has been approved, and in the meantime we decided this would be a great spot to house between 300 and 400 people.
"We have put everything together, and we hope this is the area to keep people off the road. We have consulted with the Fire Brigade, the police and local representatives, and also with charities who will be doing one-day events.'
He said: 'Initially we thought about band parades, but then (asked) why not family events also?'
TUV Councillor Ron McDowell told the committee: 'The area has been crying out for something like this. It is an initiative that is going to take people off the streets, it is going to take crowds off the kerbside, and take away a lot of that loitering that we see on the Shankill. It will put a wee bit of discipline into the area, and do something to proactively restore a family friendly environment.'
Asked by Alliance Councillor Fiona McAteer what type of events would be held, Mr McAdam replied: 'We have spoken to a few entertainers, who already sing in our existing bar, and they are reaching out to not just local bands, but bands in England.
'It will be for more than just band parades. We are thinking of family days, where six or seven from one family can book a table for entertainment, and live bands. We don't want this to be seen as a loyalist thing, that is the last thing we want. In my existing bar on the Shankill Road, believe it or not, you are not allowed to sing a loyalist song in it.'
Another representative for the application said: 'We have engaged with a local group called RCity, who work out of the Common Market. We are aware there is a Party in the Park later in the year. We are not involved in that, and this is not us trying to take over an open air concert and run a major event. This is for local people, to invite people into their area, and particularly teenagers, particularly the RCity group.'
