Bar No.4 in is a popular bar which provides food, drink and entertainment and wants to extend its late night offer
A popular Merseyside bar has vowed to explore all opportunities as they continue their fight for survival amid the ‘horrific’ economic difficulties faced by the hospitality industry. According to recent reports, more than 50 pubs are closing on average every month in 2024 and that figure is expected to rise next year.
For Mike Finch, premises license holder of bar No.4 in Birkdale, the economic challenges faced by the hospitality industry present an existential threat to pubs and bars across the country – including his own. As a consequence, Mike is looking at areas of his business where he can add value and has now successfully applied to extend No.4’s late night hours after a licensing meeting with Sefton Council this morning.
Mike explained that hospitality businesses have struggled since covid and the added impact of the cost of living crisis and he is trying to find added value in what he can offer his customers, he explained: “It’s nice to be able to compete on a level playing field with other places now, and we can say it’ll be business as usual but just a little later at the weekends.”
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Licensing Matters advocate, Gill Sherratt was speaking on behalf of Mike at the licensing hearing and she has been advising him for the last 15 years. Asked about how her clients are trying to adapt to a difficult economic situation, she said: “It’s not just post pandemic, it’s the cost of living and I have to say the energy bills have crippled people.
“It’s reported every week that many pubs are closing, and every single week. It’s pretty horrific at the moment for them [hospitality businesses].”
No.4’s application was adjudicated on by cllrs Mike Morris, Karen Cavanagh and Lynne Thompson who granted the variation in the license in lieu of a minor alteration relating to some wording in the application. The much-loved Birkdale bar will now be able to serve alcohol up to 1am and open until 01:30am on Friday and Saturdays subject to conditions.
There was one objection relating to the possibility of noise but the committee found no supporting evidence to confirm this and were assured by the applicant that every effort had been made to consult with and satisfy the concerns of local tenants.
