New bar refused permission to open in Nottingham

A fast-expanding chain of bars has been refused a licence by Nottingham City Council after councillors expressed fears that it would lead to increased crime in the area.

El Capo, which is based in Manchester’s thriving Northern Quarter, wanted to open its first outlet outside of the city by moving into the former Coco Lounge unit on George Street in the Hockley area of Nottingham.

However, at a meeting last week, Nottingham City Council turned down the license application despite El Capo’s owners saying it would alter its opening hours.

The Council said: “The panel accepted the police evidence confirming the problems associated with alcohol in the night time economy which include incidents of theft, violence against the person, drugs offences, robbery and vandalism.

“The statistics also showed a high volume of anti-social behaviour complaints, e.g. multiple noise nuisance complaints from the flats situated on George Street near to the premises.”

Coco Lounge shut two years ago after a series of controversies that included a stabbing. It was finally closed after a report found the management to be “woefully inadequate”.