Leeds planning chiefs delay Headingley Wetherspoons decision for Elinor Lupton site

Council licensing chiefs met today to consider whether to grant an alcohol licence to the pub giant for the old Elinor Lupton Centre in Headingley Lane – formerly part of Leeds Girls’ High School .

The decision now looks set to be made at some point in the coming week, following a hearing into its future today.

The pub chain told a meeting of Leeds City Council’s licensing sub-committee it would invest £3m bringing the building back into use, adding it would run ‘modest’ opening hours, not allow Otley Run-goers to enter, and be family friendly.

But local residents claimed the site would exacerbate problems with alcohol-related antisocial behaviour in the area – with one nearby resident worried gardens would become a ‘lavatories’ for intoxicated pub-goers.

A previous application for the site had been rejected in 2016, and then the following year by a judge on appeal. Wetherspoons said it had submitted the new proposal due to recent relaxations of the strict licensing policies – known as CIPs – that used to cover the area.

A representative of Wetherspoons said: “The site is in considerable disrepair both internally and externally – investment is needed in the region of £3m to bring it back into use.

“There would not be music or entertainment of any type at the venue. There will not be any disco or any karaoke – there will be small televisions showing terrestrial sport and the news.

“There are no happy hours or any promotions to encourage people to drink faster. It is socially inclusive – there is no barrier to price to anyone who wants to enjoy food and drink.”

Plans for the site would see the pub serving alcohol from 9am-10.30pm on Sunday to Thursday, and 9am-11pm on Fridays and Saturdays. The representative added the site would have no entertainment or music, and would only show terrestrial sports and news on small televisions.

“One area of concern is the Otley Run,” he added. “We hear that loud and clear and we do not want to add to that.

“We will not allow entry to participants of the Otley Run. That will be enforced by door staff and signage – the premises on the Otley Run are clearly defined.

“That reputation will become known.

“You are not going to see a migration of customers to these premises late at night – it will be the opposite – if you want to drink after 10.30pm on a weeknight, you will have to go to other premises.

“Students will use the pub, but it is inclusive. The premises will be family friendly – there is a children’s menu – and children and families are welcome.

“Local families and children have nothing to fear from this pub.”

The meeting was told an original application for the site was rejected in 2016, before an appeal was thrown out by a district judge the following year.

Back in 2016, the area was covered by a cumulative impact policy (CIP), which required premises wanting an alcohol licence to prove beyond doubt that they would not add to local alcohol-related antisocial behaviour problems. The CIP is no longer in place in the area.

Representing the company Arc Inspirations, which runs a nearby bar, Paddy Whur told the meeting that the CIP had nothing to do with the previous rejection, and that the principles against the site had not changed.

He said: “The CIP previously was not a relevant consideration. It is the same application and it will ave the same impact.