PLANS for a new boutique bar with live acoustic music in Cheltenham have been given the go-ahead despite fears it would attract 'undesirables' and cause a noise nuisance.

Sorrel Stores Limited has been granted permission by Cheltenham Borough Council to serve alcohol and provide live music at 2 Great Norwood Street.

The premises licence will allow them to sell alcohol from 10am to 11pm Monday to Saturday and from 10am to 10pm on Sundays.

They will also be able to play live music there from noon to 9pm Monday to Saturday.

However, the proposals attracted two objections from neighbours as well as three letters of support.

Mike Knight, an objector, spoke against the plans at the licensing committee hearing on May 22. He said he did not think Great Norwood Street needed such a venue.

He said: “My concern is for the people who live there who have children and pets and there are plenty of people working from home and they don’t want to have extra noise or aggravation. It’s going to be associated with people drinking, fighting, urinating, drugs, noise and vandalism.

“That’s on top of trying to park at the moment. The venue has a ginnel around the side which already attracts undesirables at the best of time. The area is a nice area. I just don’t think it needs it.”

Philippa Jones, another resident who spoke against the plans, said she was concerned about the impact it would have on her home.

Laura Nelson, a solicitor representing the applicant, told the committee it was not an application for a nightclub but a boutique bar.

And she explained the music played there would be “soft acoustic”.

She said: “The applicant intends to curate local produce with flowers, craft from the locality promoting a cooperative whole foods style offering with a kitchen to facility to offer customers small plates.

“The concept the applicant is hoping to build is that customers will be eating small plates of local food on plates made by their inhouse ceramicist and listening to an occasional live performer.”

She said the focus of alcohol on quality produce with local draft beer wines and spirits being available. In time they would look to provide cocktails with a botanical theme to complement the fresh juices to be sold there.

“In terms of the nature of live music the aim is to promote acoustic soft background style musicians. For example, acoustic country. The objective is to support local budding artists and incorporate a community feel at the premises.”

Emelye Durrant, one of the owners, also said the normal opening hours would for the venue to close by 8.30pm. She said: “I like going to bed early.

“I don’t want to be selling alcohol until 11pm anyway. It’s just the safety net of having the licence if we might one day want to if there is a festival in the gardens.”

The committee voted unanimously to grant the premises licence.