Residents object to Bourne End restaurant's entertainment plan

5:51pm Friday 21st November 2008

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RESIDENTS of Bourne End today objected to a restaurant's bid to offer live performances of North African music and belly dancers.

There were 42 representations against the application of the Ayoush restaurant in Hedsor Road.

Objectors said the surrounding residents would suffer, particularly in Hedsor Road, Abney Court Drive and Furlong Road.

Residents told the Licensing Panel Hearing at Wycombe District Council that a restaurant promoting a “party atmosphere” would cause parking problems and lead to noise pollution.

Penny Halls, of Cherry Cottage, which is next door to the restaurant, said: “It's totally irresponsible of the applicant to consider inflicting this noise nuisance and the community as a whole.

“I can only imagine this is going to devastate our private lives.”

The site was formerly Mexican Restaurant Poco Loco, and last year became Emperor of India, until Ayoush took over the licence in September. The new restaurant opened on October 29.

Jim Penfold, chairman of Bourne End Residents Association said he was speaking on behalf of the 42 objectors. He said : “The large majority, if not everyone, is happy to accept a pub or restaurant in this location.

“From the Ayoush website this is not what Mr Elawadi is proposing.”

He noted adverts he had seen for Ayoush, which also has a site in London, were appealing to stag and hen parties, and said he feared what this would mean for the surrounding residents.

He said: “This is not a pub or a restaurant but more of a nightclub.

“They should not have their sleep disturbed by revellers leaving a party on a regular basis.”

Mohsen Elawadi, licensee of Ayoush, said: “I'd like to find good grounds to work with them, not against the objectors.”

He said live music would consist of someone playing hand drums, a guitar, and possibly live bands of three people. He said none of this music would be amplified, and stag parties would not be welcome.

He added customers would only get “a glimpse of the tradition of the belly dancer”, and performance were unlikely to be more than five to ten minutes.

Mr Elawadi told the hearing the Ayoush website was being updated, and the Bourne End restaurant would have a different page to the one currently online.

He described the clientele he wanted to attract as “responsible people who want to go to bed about 12am to get up to go to work the next day.”

He said: “I didn't come to intrude on everybody. I came to bring a community restaurant.”

His application is to allow live music from 7pm to 11.30pm Monday to Saturday and from 7pm to 11pm on Sunday. It would allow recorded music to be played until 12.30am Monday to Saturday and 11.30pm on Sunday.

It also allows for dance performances from 7pm to 11.30pm Sunday to Thursday, and until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. Dance facilities are also proposed, from 7pm until midnight from Monday to Thursday, until 12.30am Fridays and Saturdays and until 11.30pm on Sundays.

The panel said a decision should be announced in five days.