Relaxation Of Hot Food License In Hereford...

[Colin James]

Well I have been campaigning for a 'relaxation' in the way hot food licenses have been restricted to no later than 1.30am in Hereford for a long time, but today I have been given some really really encouraging news! 

 

Fancy a curry after a night out in your local nightclub at 2am? Well now you may be able too...

 

 

I have had a very interesting conversation with a good friend of mine and a very reliable source  this afternoon, who informs me that the previous licensing issues with regard to hot food are being relaxed and that positive changes are a foot.

 

From my understanding, any existing restaurant/pub/club can now apply for a late license and providing they can prove that they will have no impact on CIZ or increase criminal activity because they are staying open later there is a good chance that permission will be granted or rather no objections will come from the police etc..

 

The applicant may need to apply initially for a Temporary Event Licence in the interim but if after a period of say a few months there is no significant increase in crime, there should be no real reason for the council or police to challenge their application.

 

I have never understood why some of these food establishments have been prevented from still offering a home delivery service after 1.30 but that's by the by now.

 

So if you or anyone you knows has a take away, restaurant, pub or club get them to apply for a late licence if they so desire and lets see whats happens.

 

It would be interesting to see what happens if McDonalds in town re-apply now.

[Bill Thomas]

Well this is encouraging news Colin, I am sure that your long campaign has had an impact my friend. Common sense prevails but it's long overdue and some of the damage will take a wile to reverse. I know a lot of people who have avoided Hereford nightlife at the weekends simply because half the places are closed in the early hours and by 2am it's like a ghost town.

[Paul Jones]

Happy days!!!!!!! There is nothing worse and I mean nothing worse than not being able to grab a curry on your way home after a good night out, I remeber the days when you could get a curry at 4am from Ip Sisters 

[M. Preece]

At last some good news but I will wait and see first because people are so used to not being able to buy hot food late at night in our village that it might take a while for the word to spread. Still, on a positive note I hope this is the case, lets hope an application is submitted sooner rather than later. 

[H.Wilson]

Good news indeed, must be disappointing for the younger people not being able to enjoy a good take away after a skin full like we used too in our day ha ha. As long as there is no added trouble it gets my tick. 

[Roger]

The applicant may need to apply initially for a Temporary Event Licence in the interim but if after a period of say a few months there is no significant increase in crime, there should be no real reason for the council or police to challenge their application.

 

I didn't know the cost of a TEN but apparently it's £21 ... Council Website

 

Sounds like progress ... Step in the right direction I think ... 

[stupidfrustration]

When this goes wrong for our town, and only the big boys of Mc Ds and KFC are open as there is not enough trade for the local independent business, me popping up here saying "i told you so" will do no good.

 

Once again, I say this - be careful what you wish for.

 

There are not enough people in the NTE to keep a load of late night food places open, as such, the locals will close, the big boys will stay open - that will be it.

 

In my humble opinion - all this will do eventually - is give more of our hard earned local cash to the big boys.

[Colin James]

When this goes wrong for our town, and only the big boys of Mc Ds and KFC are open as there is not enough trade for the local independent business, me popping up here saying "i told you so" will do no good.

 

Once again, I say this - be careful what you wish for.

 

There are not enough people in the NTE to keep a load of late night food places open, as such, the locals will close, the big boys will stay open - that will be it.

 

In my humble opinion - all this will do eventually - is give more of our hard earned local cash to the big boys.

 

Well I prefer Indian food, however, I think having at least some sort of choice just has to be better than having no choice, like we have right now.

[Paul Jones]

Well I prefer Indian food, however, I think having at least some sort of choice just has to be better than having no choice, like we have right now.

 

I am with you on this Colin. Hereford offers NOTHING for people on a night out wanting a late night bite, at least this will now open the door hopefully, to be honest when you have the munchies after a night out, personally, I could not care less if its McDonalds, Indian, Chinese or a Kebab..

[stupidfrustration]

Well I prefer Indian food, however, I think having at least some sort of choice just has to be better than having no choice, like we have right now.

 

 

Colin,

 

We all sound like stuck records on this. 

 

I agree - I would love to have a good ruby murry at 3am - love to. 

 

But I foresee that wont happen for long. 

 

I respect what you are trying to do here, I really do, but when I look at it I see : 

 

All obvious food choices trying to stay open later. 

now - add in a couple of curry houses

Now - add in a Chinese

Now - add in MCd's

Now - add in KFC

 

LOADS of offerings there. 

 

There are not that many people out at 2am. 

 

Not all of those people that are out will want food. 

 

Of those that do - are there enough people to service and keep in business all these late night food houses? 

 

My suggestion is - there are not. 

 

So - what or who is out at that time? 

 

In the majority - mainly 18 - 30s - spread over Play, Saxtys, Mammas. No need to discuss Jail House as that is going. 

So - three venues open - maybe 1500 people between those 3 venues at 2am. 

 

I just dont see how there will be enough trade for all those venues to stay open till late for a maximum of 1500 people who are out - and thats only on a Saturday night.

 

And - to bottom out my view - who will have the financial backing to see through the fight? To offer these mainly 18-30s great incentives to eat there. Who is big enough to almost give the food away to get customers to go there? Who has seating / toilets and warmth?

 

Its KFC and McD's. 

 

I know my views are not the popular vote here - but I call it how I see it. 

[greenknight]

Well I guess someone has to try and in the end it will come down to commerce as SF states. Brighton is a fantastic example of eating out late and not just a kebab either. The trouble is that Hereford just isn't Brighton. I love the ideal of leaving a club or casino with friends and finding an Italian restaurant but again Hereford isn't quite there yet. It's currently under 30's looking for quick food and a taxi. That said it's worth a punt surely but would I be ready to invest...me Dragon says no!!

[Colin James]

You used to be able to buy a curry in Hereford at 3am, I agree that maybe there are not enough people out at that time but I also believe its because most go straight home from the clubs because they know everywhere is closed!

 

It's not about winners and losers, its about choice and that is where I am coming from.

[Paul Neades]

This is good to hear, but we don't want to go back to the old days with the trouble that came with it. Things are a lot quieter than years ago when the CIZ was introduced and I'm not sure that the city would support many outlets opening to make it profatible, but I supose that's the choice of the owner. There would need to be some sort of control eg someone stop any trouble that would inevitably come with it, call me synacle.

[Roger]

Colin,

 

We all sound like stuck records on this. 

 

I just dont see how there will be enough trade for all those venues to stay open till late for a maximum of 1500 people who are out - and thats only on a Saturday night.

 

And - to bottom out my view - who will have the financial backing to see through the fight? To offer these mainly 18-30s great incentives to eat there. Who is big enough to almost give the food away to get customers to go there? Who has seating / toilets and warmth?

 

Its KFC and McD's. 

 

I agree with a lot of your post ... It is a 'stuck record' and I don't think posters' like keeping it stuck. 

 

The Chains/Independent retailers have shook out to this 1.30 AM finish and there seems to be enough trade for them all to trade in a viable fashion ...

 

Hypothetically if the late night stuff was drastically relaxed then it might well end up with KFC and Maccies being the ones that stuck it out longest for the 2 AM to 4 AM trade. But how could/would that affect the existing 1.30 AM limit traders' ? ... Like Charcoal Grill or whatever ... ? 

[stupidfrustration]

To answer your question Roger - its simple economics.

 

The pubs have trade - and there are more people out in Hereford at midnight than there are at 3am for example.

 

Spoons has a decent trade, Hope Pole has some, Yates does well, as do the Long Bar and of course the Commercial, and Shake and Stir, and The Heardsman, and The Exchange and the Wellington and the Imperial and The Barrels, and Watercress Harrys and Zanes and.......

 

Now - some of those people go to a club, Play/Saxtys/Mammas. 

 

The point is - about the amount of people out at the times available.

 

Simply at midnight - there are still people around to buy food.

 

At three am - there is simply the three clubs that have customers - of which not all will want food.

 

Choice is good - no - its great.

 

But - I personally prefer to spend money locally and keep the local Hereford Business man in business rather than the big chains that will take the majority of the trade and in my view make it unviable for the local to keep open and make any money eventually resulting in only the big corporates open.

 

This then means no choice

AND money taken out of Hereford

 

And that is what I am against.

[Mick]

To answer your question Roger - its simple economics.

 

The pubs have trade - and there are more people out in Hereford at midnight than there are at 3am for example.

 

Spoons has a decent trade, Hope Pole has some, Yates does well, as do the Long Bar and of course the Commercial, and Shake and Stir, and The Heardsman, and The Exchange and the Wellington and the Imperial and The Barrels, and Watercress Harrys and Zanes and.......

 

Now - some of those people go to a club, Play/Saxtys/Mammas. 

 

The point is - about the amount of people out at the times available.

 

Simply at midnight - there are still people around to buy food.

 

At three am - there is simply the three clubs that have customers - of which not all will want food.

 

Choice is good - no - its great.

 

But - I personally prefer to spend money locally and keep the local Hereford Business man in business rather than the big chains that will take the majority of the trade and in my view make it unviable for the local to keep open and make any money eventually resulting in only the big corporates open.

 

This then means no choice

AND money taken out of Hereford

 

And that is what I am against.

 

But both McDonalds in Hereford are owned by a local franchisee.. I don't think you can eliminate a business simply because they are bigger, given the choice for a take away after a good night out I would select Chinese - Indian - Kebab over a McDonalds everyday of the week but on the flip-side of that my brother cannot eat spicy food, so he would take the McDonalds option. People can choose to spend their money where they prefer.

Colin has pointed out that it is about having a choice and I tend to agree, today we have no choice do we?

[Roger]

A later opening would only hit the sandwich shops (everyone prefers hot to cold after a night on the ale) ... 2AM - 4AM trade could be fought out by whoever jumped thru the Licensing hoops that may or may not be relaxed ... 

[Alex]

You used to be able to buy a curry in Hereford at 3am, I agree that maybe there are not enough people out at that time but I also believe its because most go straight home from the clubs because they know everywhere is closed!

 

It's not about winners and losers, its about choice and that is where I am coming from.

 

Choice has to be good. This is an encouraging development and well done to HV for keeping up the pressure on this out of touch policy. 

[Roger]

But - I personally prefer to spend money locally and keep the local Hereford Business man in business rather than the big chains that will take the majority of the trade and in my view make it unviable for the local to keep open and make any money eventually resulting in only the big corporates open.

 

This then means no choice

AND money taken out of Hereford

 

And that is what I am against.

 

Rubbish ... If the Charcoal Grill had a later licence then I would guess local people would go there instead of KFC ... The fella who runs that has been there for years! Obviously I'm not party to his financial situation tho! 

[Bill Thomas]

Lets hope that there is an application over the coming months which will start this process for local businesses.

[Alex]

Lets hope that there is an application over the coming months which will start this process for local businesses.

 

I am with you on this one.

[Biomech]

Two comments on this;

 

1 - Let's not be too hasty, being able to apply for a licence to serve hot food late doesn't mean the council will approve the applications
2 - With the news of the Jailhouse AND Fusion closing down, stupidfrustrations points become a lot more valid - there just isn't going to be the people out there anymore

(I don't agree with him entirely, love a bloody charcoal grill and I would choose that over McDonalds easily)

[dippyhippy]

Yes, Biomech. It's simple economics, and not unlike the situation with the Old Market shops opting to close early. Not enough customers to be viable to pay staff,or be worth staying open for.

 

At the end of the day,yes, Hereford is a city....but a small one! I don't really think we will ever be able to compete with cities like Cardiff. Perhaps when/if the new University opens, this may change if night time numbers increase.

 

(I just love a veggie burger from Charcoal Grill.....sadly, they now seem to use some internet company - Hungry House??- to take their delivery orders.....that service is diabolical. Much better when you could phone the shop direct!)

[Colin James]

I have to continue to repeat myself, It's about choice! I appreciate exactly what you guys are saying but this never used to be a problem years ago, there was always people about and you could always grab a curry after 2am. All I am saying is allow the restaurant/take-away owners to decide if it's viable to stay open but give them that choice to make in the first place.

 

I do agree with Rebecca that these silly decisions to prevent licences being issued after 1.30am for hot food must of had an impact of trade and the slow demise of the city as Rebecca said.

[Biomech]

Old Market shops opting to close early

 

They're already closing early?

 

Absolutely Colin, the trouble is, Hereford no longer has any choice, so people don't look for it. To have a choice of food at 2am, you need a choice of reasons to be out at 2am

[Paul Neades]

Munchies were talking about applying to open later but as soon as they do the others will and there will not be enough current trade to support them all. Lots of choice but no customers - Give it a year and they will all be closing back at 1.30 again.

[stupidfrustration]

Exactly right Paul - and your qualifications are?

 

Only running the biggest and busiest pub slap bang in the middle of town! So you would know more than many on here.

[Cambo]

Exactly right Paul - and your qualifications are?

 

Only running the biggest and busiest pub slap bang in the middle of town! So you would know more than many on here.

Stupidfrustraition I really cannot understand why your so against places that sell hot food having a choices whether or not,they wish to stay open, later or not?

Some of them will do ok & some won't we get that but that should be up to those business to decide & the people on a night out to choice which place they get there food from which will ultimately help those business make there choice to stay open or not…as Colin says it's about having the option to do so that counts!!

[Bilbobobby]

I promised myself that I would not post on this thread again...lasted longer than I expected.

Bottom line plenty of enquiries to ask what is an acceptable later hour for hot food...but STILL no applications made. Getting a later licence is the first step..being compelled to use it all the time is not compulsory -ask the many pubs who close early when trade is dire...its becoming a roundabout with the ever increasing nervous operators too scared to get off!

[Glenda Powell]

At the Regulatory meeting last Thursday, as part of the agenda for discussion was the CIZ area and we were asked if we were happy that this area had improved as of late. As part of that conversation I asked if we could relax the condition for hot food to be sold after 1.30am. I was told  by the chairman that there was a Chinese takeaway in Commercial Street now allowed to stay open till 2.30am, to which I replied then other hot food establishments should be able to do the same, the reply was ' tell them to apply for a licence' and it will be considered. So come on guys I have opened the door to discussion its up to you now to apply!!