A HUDDERSFIELD restaurant has won a long battle to get a drinks licence.
The Shabab on New Street in the town centre was badly damaged by fire three years ago.
After overcoming major problems to get it repaired and re-opened at the end of last year, 52-year-old owner Mohammed Nazir has finally triumphed in the courts to get a drinks licence.
The newly-refurbished Shabab opened last December and customers have been able to take in their own alcoholic drinks.
But Mr Nazir said that not having a drinks licence had affected trade.
However, his staff are once again serving from behind the bar.
Huddersfield magistrates had turned down Mr Nazir's request for a licence.
But that decision was overturned by a judge at Bradford Crown Court on Friday.
Mr Nazir said: "It has been a long, drawn-out battle. It has taken eight months to get a drinks licence.
"Thankfully, loyal customers have stood by me, but I have lost thousands of pounds in revenue over this, along with court costs.
"I'm just so relieved that the Shabab is back like it was before the fire."
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