Restaurateur behind new Heswall Mexican explains his late night license ambitions

Fears a new Mexican restaurant in Heswall could turn into a late night bar, disturbing residents into the early hours were voiced at a crunch meeting today.

Wirral Council's Licensing Panel met to discuss Jonty Trott's plan to open the restaurant, called Tahona, at The Curve on The Mount, which would serve food until around 10pm and continue to serve alcohol until 1.30am.

Speaking at the meeting, Heswall councillor Andrew Hodson said residents were not against a restaurant, or perhaps a bar, opening, but they were worried about the prospect of a late bar or "staff drinking club".

Cllr Hodson said the venue would be somewhere to go when other places closed and people would be attracted to it "like moths drawn to a light". The Conservative councillor thought people would leave the nearby Wetherspoons, which is set to open in May and must close by 11.30pm, and make their way across to this late night drinking bar.

Cllr Hodson said all residents wanted was peace and quiet in the middle of the night. In total, 21 residents contacted Wirral Council to voice their concerns with the plan. Documents prepared for today's meeting said the residents had "strong concerns regarding the operating hours" due to how close the premises is to residential properties.

Under Mr Trott's plan, the restaurant would be open between 9am and 1.30am every day, with recorded music being allowed between the same hours. Alcohol would be sold between 10am and 1.30am each day.

The premises would also be allowed to play live music between 6pm and 11pm on Fridays and Saturdays should its plan be approved.

Following discussions with Merseyside Police, it has been agreed the premises will operate primarily as a restaurant and that CCTV will be installed, as well as a number of other conditions including staff being fully trained and policies to ensure underage customers are not served alcohol.

Mr Trott defended his plan and believed there had been a "misunderstanding" about what he was seeking to open. He clarified it will be a restaurant and people can have a drink there after a meal or after work.

But Mr Trott said if door staff were needed he would use them in collaboration with Wetherspoons, but it was not his intention for people to fall out of another bar and come into Tahona. The applicant also made the point that around 500 metres away from his bar there are other venues which open later than 1.30am.

Labour councillor Chris Jones, one member of the three-councillor panel which must decide whether to grant the restaurant an alcohol licence, said Mr Trott needed to think about his clientele. She suggested it sounded a little bit like he was looking to open a "staff club".

Mr Trott said he would be selling high quality spirits and high quality drinks and added that it was not about saying "here's five drinks for a tenner, see how you get on". The applicant also told the committee the restaurant plan was being put forward by three lads who have lived in the area all of their lives and want to do something good for the community.

The panel's decision on whether to grant the licence will be revealed within five working days.