Takeaway blocked from staying open in early hours

A Bradford takeaway has lost its bid to serve customers in the early hours of the morning after noise complaints were made to the council.

Mahmoods burger restaurant, on Oak Lane, Manningham, hoped to be granted a later licence to serve hot food until 02:00 BST - two hours later than it currently stays open.

The business told Bradford Council’s licensing panel the proposed move was due to the city having a "late-night culture" of people working and eating late at night.

But environmental health officers told a meeting about noise issues, along with the business operating without a late-night licence since 2021.

To serve hot food past 23:00, restaurants are required to gain permission from a licensing panel.

Mahmoods previously had a licence to open until 01:00, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said, but this had not been signed over to a new operator when the business changed hands three years ago.

The meeting on Tuesday heard the takeaway was currently open until midnight, which was an hour later than it was allowed.

Charlotte Caygill, an environmental health officer, pointed out there were flats above the business and homes nearby.

"The business hasn’t shown a great record of compliance," she said.

"They have not dealt with noise complaints until we’ve intervened."

Reported complaints included noisy extraction units, an alarm repeatedly going off and "loud staff".

"Residents have complained to me that the business has no respect for local people," Ms Caygill said.

"Myself and the planning department believe this takeaway is in the wrong location to open until two o'clock."

Azmat Khan, representing Mahmoods, argued the business had been trading there for over a decade.

"Most of the complaints have come from a single gentleman - over time we’ve built better relationships with that person," he said.

"The issues they’ve spoken about are in the past."

Mr Khan added: "Bradford is a late-night culture, people eat late at night and work late at night."

After deliberation, the panel agreed to grant the business a late licence but only until midnight.

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