Pubs and Bars / Bars
The Doghouse could be set to re-open
A popular basement bar could reopen this month if Bristol City Council grants the owner permission to sell alcohol.
The Doghouse, in St Stephen’s Street, had been running as a cocktail bar and music venue until July last year when the previous owner surrendered the licence.
Now new owner Mark Harris has been working to get the bar open again.
is needed now More than ever
He will appear before the city council’s licensing committee this week, where councillors will decide whether to grant the premises a licence to sell alcohol, stay open late and play music.
The Doghouse and former karaoke bar on the same street are both standing empty
If approved, The Doghouse would be open from 6pm to 2.30am Sunday to Wednesday, with the opening hours extended to 4.30am on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
Alcohol would be served until 2am during the week and 4am on the weekends to coincide with the opening hours.
An operating schedule was included with the application outlining how it would adhere to the council’s licensing objectives such as public safety, as well as the prevention of crime and disorder and public nuisance.
The premises sits within the city centre Cumulative Impact Area (CIP) – which has been introduced to crackdown on alcohol-fuelled violence.
In some cases the policy encourages councils not to grant an alcohol licence within the area, or to include strict guidelines such as new drinks offers.
Bristol City Council has recently been praised for the “sensible” way it applies its CIP policy, which allows new operators to open within the area if they have a good offer.
The Doghouse application will be discussed at City Hall from 10am on Thursday (April 26).
Kate Wilson is a local democracy reporter for Bristol.
Read more: Exclusive: former Bordeaux Quay set to be transformed into rum bar
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