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Search the Public Notice PortalA live music venue in Darwen has been granted permission to open for three hours extra on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays, but not the four hours asked for by its owner.
The approval was granted by Blackburn with Darwen Council’s planning committee for BVSMNT, in the basement of The Old Co-op bakery once occupied by Darwen Windows Ltd in the town's Borough Road on the outskirts of the town centre.
It followed a debate by councillors and was given approval despite an objection from local Councillor Brian Taylor.
The original planning permission for the venue, which can hold 150 people, in December 2022 restricted its opening hours to Monday to Saturday: 6.30pm to 11pm; and Sunday: 6.30pm to 10pm.
In December 2023, this was varied to allow the club to capture early evening trade, opening 90 minutes earlier on Fridays, and from 4pm on Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays.
On Thursday night, the committee debated an application by owner Grant Mizon to allow later opening on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays until 3am.
The proposal had been objected to by Darwen West’s Cllr Taylor in a letter, which said: “I wish to object on the grounds of residential amenity, potential for noise nuisance and comings and goings in the early hours of the morning.
“Given the location of the building, in a residential area, 3am on a Friday, Saturday and Sunday closing is too late.”
Speaking on behalf of Mr Mizon, agent Paddy Whur said: “This change is to secure the long-term future of the business.
“It’s popular. It’s diverse.”
The committee voted to allow the extension of the venue’s hours until 2am on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, with the option of adding the extra hour at a future meeting after the impact of the change had been monitored.
Blackburn with Darwen Council growth boss Cllr Quesir Mahmood moved the new hours, saying: “I am more comfortable with 2am rather than 3am.”
Conservative planning spokesperson Cllr Paul Marrow said: “I think 2am is adequate for now. We can move to 3am later on.”
Committee chair and Darwen West councillor Dave Smith said: “Rather than 3am at the moment I am for 2am and we can look at 3am at a later date.”
Mr Mizon said after the meeting: “I am slightly disappointed to be honest that we did not get 3am.
“I am grateful for the extension to 2am, and hopefully we can get 3am at a later date.”
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