A YOUNG businesswoman faces a crucial licence battle this week.
Stephanie Bratby, 21, has asked Kirklees Council for permission to keep Henry’s Coffee and Wine Bar in Skelmanthorpe open later in the evening.
The law student, who opened the Lodge Street business in May, believes the change is vital.
But some residents have written to Kirklees objecting to the proposal, saying it would lead to noise problems in the village.
The wine bar is currently allowed to sell alcohol until 4.30pm from Mondays to Wednesdays, 7.30pm on Thursdays, 8.30pm on Fridays, 9.30pm on Saturdays and 3.30pm on Sundays.
The council’s Licensing Panel will decide on Friday whether to allow the venue to serve alcohol until 1.30am every night.
Ms Bratby told the Examiner yesterday that she needed to be able to keep the wine bar open later.
“People just can’t come in and settle with a bottle of wine if they have to leave at 8.45pm,’’ she said. “It’s starting to kill the business.’’
But Ms Bratby added that she does not plan to keep the wine bar open until 1.30am if the extension is granted.
She said: “I was advised to get as much as I could so I had it in the bag for events like New Year’s Eve – that’s why I’ve applied for 1.30am.
“I think I would take last orders about 11pm on Fridays and Saturdays.”
Ms Bratby, who is studying law at the University of Huddersfield along with running the wine bar, said extending the licence would not lead to problems in the village.
“Our customers are in their late 20s and upwards” she said.
“It’s not rowdy. People don’t come with the intention of getting drunk like you might at a bar or a nightclub.”
The council’s Licensing Panel will decide on the issue at a meeting at Huddersfield Town Hall from 10.30am on Friday.
Six people have written to Kirklees objecting to the proposed extension in opening hours.
Sandra Cockshaw, who lives next door to the wine bar, described the plan as “outrageous”.
She claimed: “Henry’s is open until 10.30pm at the moment and I can hear the noise when I am in bed. I can also hear customers in the day time when they are sat outside.”
Robert Simpson, who also lives on Lodge Street, wrote: “I do not understand why our small village needs yet another establishment that serves alcohol and plays music until 2am.”
Five people have written to Kirklees supporting the licence extension.
Katie Sykes wrote: “Please let Steph and all the lovely staff at Henry’s extend their opening hours. It is an amazing little place and just what Skelmanthorpe needs.”
Dawn Watson from Station Road wrote: “It has a great atmosphere, very friendly staff, just what you need for a nice girlie get-together or a quiet drink out with your husband”.
