Reopening of Fountains Bar & Cafe in Llandudno despite noise concerns

A popular North Wales bar will reopen despite concerns from neighbours about noise and anti-social behaviour. Fountains Bar & Cafe on

Upper Mostyn Street, Llandudno will fully reopen after businessman Phillip Ashe was granted permission to sell alcohol by a Conwy County Council licensing committee.

Mr Ashe addressed a sub-committee meeting earlier this month when seeking permission to reopen the bar which failed to reopen after a New Year’s Eve party.

The sub-committee then went away to assess the evidence and decide. Mr Ashe had responded to concerns from residents about noise when he applied for the expired licence to be renewed.

As a result the bar will now be permitted to open from 9am to midnight (Monday-Thursday and Sundays). It will be allowed to stay open until 2.30 am on Friday and Saturdays; and until 1.30 am on bank holidays.

Earlier this month at a meeting in Bodlondeb, Mr Ashe said noise levels would be measured at least once an hour during live music events and claimed to have contacted the residents who raised objections.

Several neighbours complained to the council about the potential for noise and associated anti-social behaviour, but Mr Ashe, who has run several pubs in the area, then revised the bar’s opening hours.

Mr Ashe claimed he has since reassured residents about the bar’s noise policy and said he’d even given residents his personal phone number.

Speaking about the bar’s reopening, Mr Ashe said: “It was busy last week. But it was always going to be busy because we’ve just opened, and we were coming into a bank holiday weekend. Bank holidays are always busy.”

The bar had been operating on temporary licences whilst awaiting the final decision.

By Richard Evans – Local Democracy Reporter