Bar's new hours opposed over 'breast jiggling'

Neighbours of a bar have objected to its application to stay open later because of concerns about rowdy, drunken behaviour.

The Country Club in Barnsley's Victorian Arcade has applied to extend its licence to serve alcohol daily from 11.30 to 23:30 to 11.30 to 02:00.

Barnsley Council said one nearby business, the Spectacle Shop, had reported instances of anti-social behaviour including a woman "walking to their shop window and jiggling her breasts at their customers, one of whom was an 85-year-old man".

The bar owners said they were committed to maintaining a positive relationship with neighbours.

In a letter of objection, the Spectacle Shop said over the past several months, staff had "witnessed a clear and troubling pattern of behaviour associated with patrons drinking outside The Country Club".

Detailing the incident, the business said on Saturday 24 May, one woman "approached the shop window, made direct eye contact with a customer, and proceeded to grab and shake her breasts in a clearly provocative and inappropriate manner".

The letter stated: "These behaviours are highly disruptive to the day-to-day running of our business, discourage customers from returning, and detract from the overall appeal of what is intended to be a retail-focused environment."

The shop said it was having to close earlier to avoid such issues, adding "it is entirely unreasonable that retail businesses are being forced to consider closure due to the anti-social environment".

Businesses also described other incidents, including fights, and inappropriate behaviour by hen parties "waving female blow-up dolls around" while families passed through the arcade, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The application for the licence variation would also allow recorded music to be played outdoors and enable customers to take alcohol off the premises.

In a report to the council's licensing sub-committee, the authority said The Country Club had proposed a range of new measures, including CCTV coverage, a Challenge 25 age policy, staff training on disorderly behaviour, a noise management plan and door staff on event days.

A decision on the licence variation will be made at a the licensing sub-committee meeting on 19 June.

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