A WYKE pub that has been empty since its licence was revoked last year can re-open as a much more “well-run” venue.

Bradford Council yesterday agreed to grant a new licence that will allow the Wyke Rose to open under new management.

The company that will run the pub - More Beer 4 U 3 ltd, told a licensing panel that the Wyke Rose would be better run than it was under past owners - a period when the pub was associated with loud noise being played into the early hours of the morning and anti-social behaviour.

In September Bradford Council’s District Licensing Panel revoked the pub’s licence after numerous noise complaints from neighbours. The panel had heard that the pub, then run by Clifton Properties, had constantly breached its licence - including playing music until 3am.

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Despite numerous interventions by the Council’s Environmental Health department, the noise continued.

The pub has been shut ever since.

Yesterday at a meeting in Bradford City Hall, the same panel met to decide an application for a new licence for the new company. Bob Thompson, speaking on behalf of applicant Nicola Devany, emphasised that this was a completely new application - with no link to past owners of the pub.

The licence would be to allow the pub to open between 11am and 11pm.

The applicants hoped to address previous concerns about the pub by agreeing to new CCTV on the building, full staff training, and that no live music or entertainment would be played in the pub.

Mrs Devany said she had been running pubs, including in Wibsey and Birstall, for eight years with no issues. She said to start with, there would just be one member of staff at the pub.

Councillor David Warburton (Lab, Wyke) was one of the local Councillors who had objected to the licence.

He said:” The objections are based on the history of the pub and the problems we’ve had from it for many years.”

He raised concerns about the low staff levels proposed for the re-opened pub, questioning what might happen if any of the pub’s more problematic former clientele turned.

Mr Thompson, who has been behind the running of numerous pubs in Bradford and West Yorkshire, said: “We will have the staff as is needed, in busy periods there may be more staff.

“I like good pubs operated well. What has happened in the past at this pub has been a disgrace, but that will now be in the past.

“There will be no live music, no discos, no pianos, no banjos. This will be a well run pub where conversation matters.”

He said since the pub shut there had been other parties interested in turning it into a take away or a massage and therapy centre, as well as other potential pub operators. But Mr Thompson added: “Some have been put off by the costs of applying for a new licence. Personally I would like to see this building remain a public house.”

The applicants agreed to an additional condition to the licence - that noise attenuation measures be installed in the pub to prevent any recorded music being played too loud.

After a short deliberation, the panel agreed to grant the licence.