Later Sunday opening hours and outdoor seating area approved for Ravenfield bar
Plans to allow outdoor drinking and later Sunday opening hours at a Ravenfield bar have been approved by councillors, despite objections from residents and the parish council.
Rotherham Council’s Licensing Sub-Committee has granted a variation to the premises licence for The Longbar on Braithwell Road, allowing alcohol to be served on Sundays until 10.30pm instead of the previous 5.30pm cut-off.
The decision also permits customers to drink alcohol in a designated outdoor seating area, subject to a series of additional conditions aimed at addressing safety and nuisance concerns.
The application was submitted by licence holder David Marshall, who said the bar would continue to operate responsibly and introduce extra management controls for the outdoor space.
During a meeting of the licensing committee, Mr Marshall said: “It’s a quiet establishment, it’s a wine bar it’s not a pub. We get dog walkers that predominantly take up the seats with coffees and things like that.
“We put the temporary barriers in to stop the cars overshooting the footways because it was causing an obstruction.
“We’ve also got a lot of support from the community. We’ve been open virtually a year now, and there’s been no problems.”
Gemma Needes, clerk to Ravenfield Parish Council, addressed the committee to object to the application.
Ms Needes said that “a lot of parishioners feel differently,” adding: “The parish council do not dispute that it is a community asset. The only disagreement is with the outside.
“There are also concerns that groups may gather outside the premises and that this could disrupt neighbouring residents and nearby businesses.
“The main issue that the council is concerned over is public safety.”
Ms Needes added that the parish council was also concerned about the safety of children visiting a nearby fish and chip shop and other shops, saying there were fears that inappropriate behaviour linked to alcohol consumption could be witnessed by children.
Under the amended licence, the outdoor area must be clearly defined and furnished with safe, stable furniture, with access and exit routes kept clear at all times. Alcohol will only be permitted outside for seated customers, children must be accompanied by an adult, and no amplified music will be allowed.
CCTV covering the outdoor area must be in operation, with recordings retained for at least 31 days, while staff are required to regularly monitor noise levels and compliance with licence conditions. Customers will not be allowed to leave the outdoor area with open containers, and signage must be displayed asking people to respect nearby residents.
The licence has also been amended to allow alcohol to be taken off the premises in sealed containers.
Three objections were raised during the application process, including two from local residents and one from Ravenfield Parish Council. Concerns centred on road safety, the proximity of the seating area to parked vehicles, potential noise disturbance and pressure on parking in the area.
No responsible authorities, including South Yorkshire Police, objected to the application.
Following the hearing, the council confirmed that the applicant has been formally notified of the decision and that the premises licence has now been amended in line with the sub-committee’s ruling.