The Licensing Sub Committee Hearing Panel of Manchester Council is scheduled to consider an application for a premises licence variation. The panel will also address any appeals from the public regarding background documents or confidential agenda items, and members will have the opportunity to declare any interests.

Application for Premises Licence Variation at The Drawing Room

The most significant item scheduled for discussion is an application to vary the premises licence for The Drawing Room, located at 148B Burton Road, Manchester, M20 1LH. The report of the Director of Planning, Building Control and Licensing outlines that this application has attracted objections.

The proposed variation includes amending the internal layout of the premises and removing certain conditions from Annex 2 of the current licence. However, objections have been raised by the Licensing and Out of Hours Compliance Team, as well as two Ward Councillors for Didsbury West and the West Didsbury Residents Association. The core of these objections centres on the proposed removal of Condition 26 from Annex 2, which states that Music played shall be purely incidental.

The Licensing and Out of Hours Compliance Team has cited historical and ongoing noise nuisance issues emanating from the premises, including noise from customers congregating outside, music breakout through open doors and windows, and breaches of licence conditions observed during unannounced visits. They note that during a visit on 17 September 2026, multiple breaches were observed, such as exceeding the permitted number of smokers in the external area, customers taking drinks outside, and a lack of SIA staff on duty. Officers also reported concerns about the number of customers and the staff's ability to manage behaviour. A subsequent visit on 26 September 2026 indicated a haphazard approach to door management and customer dispersal. Due to these concerns and the lack of alternative conditions proposed by the applicant to address potential public nuisance, the team recommends only a partial granting of the application, specifically requesting that Condition 26 be retained.

Ward Councillors John Leech and Richard Kilpatrick, along with the West Didsbury Residents Association, have also expressed objections. They highlight existing and ongoing noise and antisocial behaviour issues that have adversely affected nearby residents. Councillor Kilpatrick noted that the police had visited the location and found issues, recommending a review of the licence, and expressed surprise that a variation was being considered before this review. The West Didsbury Residents Association specifically requested that the application process be extended to allow residents more time to respond, citing that notification was posted less than the required minimum working days before the consultation period ended. They are concerned that removing the condition about incidental music would lead to significant disruption and loss of amenity for local residents.

The report also details the legal considerations for the hearing, referencing the Licensing Act 2003 (Hearings) Regulations 2005, and the Secretary of State's Guidance to the Licensing Act 2003, which requires licensing authorities to have regard to guidance issued by the Secretary of State. The National Licensing Policy Framework and Manchester City Council's Statement of Licensing Policy are also relevant, with specific attention drawn to Section 6: Area-Based Policies, which outlines objectives for West Didsbury Village, including supporting an attractive evening economy without adverse impact on residents.

The panel is asked to determine the application, with options including granting the licence subject to conditions, excluding licensable activities, refusing to specify a designated premises supervisor, or rejecting the application entirely.

Other Agenda Items

The meeting is also scheduled to consider any urgent business that the Chair has agreed to submit. Additionally, the panel will address any appeals from the public concerning the inspection of background documents or the inclusion of items in the confidential part of the agenda. Members will also be given an opportunity to declare any personal, prejudicial, or disclosable pecuniary interests they may have in any of the agenda items.