The Licensing Sub Committee Hearing Panel of Manchester Council met on Monday 10 August 2026 to consider an application for a new premises licence and two temporary event notices. The meeting was scheduled to discuss the potential impact of these applications on the licensing objectives.

Application for a New Premises Licence: Avan Lounge & Bar

The panel was scheduled to consider an application for a new premises licence for Avan Lounge & Bar, located at Unit 4, 163-165 Great Ducie Street, Manchester, M3 1FF. The application, reference PR202606-1764587, was made by Benjamin Ayodele Onalaja and described the premises as a restaurant, bar and shisha lounge, with late night refreshment and entertainment.

The application sought to permit live music, recorded music, and performances of dance until 5 am from Thursday to Sunday. It also requested the sale of alcohol for consumption on the premises during the same extended hours.

Representations were received from the Licensing and Out of Hours Compliance Team, who recommended refusal due to concerns about extended opening hours increasing the risk of crime and disorder. Trading Standards recommended granting the licence with additional conditions to ensure the licensing objectives were upheld, specifically regarding the protection of children from harm. These proposed conditions included the display of Challenge 25 signage, staff training on age verification and proxy sales, and the maintenance of a refusal log.

The report pack indicated that the panel was to determine the application, considering the steps proposed by the applicant to promote the licensing objectives, as well as the representations received.

Temporary Event Notice: Club 94

The committee was also scheduled to consider a Temporary Event Notice (TEN) for Club 94, located at 94-96 Grosvenor Street, Manchester, M1 7HL, reference PR202607-1776304. The event, described as a BBQ Back Car Park, was planned for Saturday, 15 August 2026, from 3:00 pm to 10:30 pm, with an expected attendance of 200 people. The TEN indicated that licensable activities would be adhered to.

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) submitted an objection notice, stating that they were satisfied that allowing the event would undermine all four licensing objectives: the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, the prevention of public nuisance, and the protection of children from harm. GMP raised concerns about the lack of detailed information regarding security staffing, event activities, ticketing, provisions for under 18s, CCTV, the presence of a Personal Licence Holder, adherence to a Challenge 25 policy, proxy sales prevention, measures to avoid disturbance to residents, a dispersal policy, alcohol promotions, searching policies, refusal policies, and drug policies. GMP recommended that a counter notice be served against the TEN.

The panel was to consider GMP's objection notice and determine whether to issue a counter notice or impose conditions on the TEN.

Temporary Event Notice: Platt Fields Market Garden

Finally, the panel was scheduled to review a Temporary Event Notice for Platt Fields Market Garden, located in Platt Fields Park, Wilmslow Road, Manchester, reference PR202607-1776273. The event, described as a Caribbean Festival - Roots Reggae Rum, was planned for Saturday, 15 August 2026, from 11:00 am to 11:00 pm, with an expected attendance of 450 people.

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) also submitted an objection notice for this TEN. GMP highlighted the lack of supporting information provided with the notice and raised similar concerns to those for the Club 94 TEN, including the need for details on security staff, event activities, ticketing, provisions for under 18s, an Event Management Plan, CCTV, the presence of a Personal Licence Holder, a Challenge 25 policy, proxy sales prevention, measures to avoid disturbance, a dispersal policy, alcohol promotions, searching policies, refusal policies, and drug policies. GMP concluded that the TEN, as submitted, could undermine all four licensing objectives and recommended that a counter notice be served.

The panel was to consider GMP's objection notice and determine whether to issue a counter notice or impose conditions on the TEN.