A bar that kept neighbours awake by playing loud music until 4am has lost its licence.
The Turkish-themed Saki Bar on Wilmslow Road, Rusholme, had its licence revoked after a barrage of complaints from angry residents over the past two years.
Town hall bosses were told by people living in the neighbourhood that the 'blaring' music could be heard up to 100 metres away from the premises, which is at the end of the world-famous curry mile.
There were also problems with groups of 'rowdy' drinkers gathering on the streets outside in the early hours of the morning, especially at weekends.
After environmental health officers carried out an investigation, the bar - which is popular with students - was served with noise abatement notices warning staff to turn down the volume.
Council chiefs say they also held meetings with the management to try to solve the problems but their efforts failed.
Manchester council's licensing sub-committee decided to revoke the bar's licence after hearing evidence from the council's environmental health team and Greater Manchester Police.
The premises will be permanently stripped of its licence unless the bar owners appeal against the decision within the next 21 days.
No choice
A spokesman for Manchester council said officers had tried to resolve the problems and were left with 'no choice' but to seek a review against the bar.
Councillor Jim Battle, the council's deputy leader, said the bar showed a 'blatant lack of concern for its neighbours'.
He added: “This premises was having a detrimental effect on local residents, who complained about noise and other problems linked to the bar.
“Although we tried on numerous occasions to work with the premises’ owners, they ignored our offers of assistance and we had no option other than to revoke the licence.
“Most licence holders across the city operate responsibly, but when businesses are run with such a blatant lack of concern for their neighbours, they should be in no doubt that we will take serious action.”
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Can you imagine a situation where a terrorism suspect was kept awake by loud music ? Of course not, it's classed as torture. So why is it that our pathetic and ineffective legal system allows this to happen to innocent people for months, or maybe even years, before it actaully does anything substantive.
Yep you've guessed it, there are loads of fat fees to be earned in spinning it out for as long as possible, and even now when the council has taken action, the lawyers are back in there with their snouts in the trough with the prospect of an appeal, which of course they will in all likelyhood win, and the whole rotten business can begin again,
But hey they lawyers will have made a nice living as a result.
It took 2 years for the council to take proper action??? Unbelievable.
I though Saki was Japanese rather than Turkish. I wonder if they do a Tokyo kebab?
thoughtful, East of Manchester
Beacuse the alternative, allowing council officials or government inspectors to simply rule our lives by diktat is a lot worse.
Pushkin - I think it's "sake" if it's the rice wine drink you're thinking of, unless you're just being sarky...
place is a nuisance
Thank goodness for that. The reasons given in the article made it a real hell hole. Lets hope they don't win their appeal.
Why on earth did Manchester council's licensing sub-committee decided to temporarily revoke it's licence. What they should have done is PERMANENTLY revoke the licence after all the trouble that the owners have caused. The trouble with councils and councillors is that they have big gobs but very small teeth.
Bring back the Carribbean restaurant that used to be there. Thats the only reason I ever came to Rusholme.
Drinking till 4am!!!!!! What's that all about?
Why do they licence places to stay open this late, especially where booze is still being sold?
Anyone staying out this late drinking, has a bit of a problem, so why pander to it. Why don't they just stay at home and booze like most of the other closet alcoholics?
Beacuse the alternative, allowing council officials or government inspectors to simply rule our lives by diktat is a lot worse.
So you find two years of torture acceptable? I'm sorry but I don't. This isn't a life or death issue, the council 'inspector' could easily fit a noise limiting device and one that cut it off entirely in hours deemed antisocial. If the complainants are exagerating it won't be a problem, but if they're telling the truth the noise will be cut down.
No need for the lawyers to get their snouts in, they're no better at judging than anyone else, in fact in many instances they're a whole lot worse.
Peoples right to a quiet life should come before a businesses right to deprive them of sleep in pursuit of a profit.