Al fresco cafe planned for bar
A bar in the heart of Leicester's city centre's burgeoning Cultural Quarter is looking for permission to open an outside cafe area.
The Exchange, opposite Curve theatre, has applied for a licence so patrons can enjoy food and drink in the open air.
-
Expansion: Cassie Soulsby outside The Exchange bar
If granted by Leicester City Council, the highways amenities licence will allow the bar to put 20 seats and accompanying tables behind a barrier in Halford Street, from 9am to midnight, seven days a week.
Owner Cassie Soulsby said the move was something customers had been eager to see.
Business Cards From Only £10.95 Delivered www.myprint-247.co.uk
View detailsOur heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.
Terms: Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk
Contact: 01858 468192
Valid until: Friday, May 31 2013
"It's the same licence that neighbouring businesses like Curve, Manhattan Bar, the Curveside cafe and Chutney Ivy restaurant already have," she said. "It was always part of our plan on opening two years ago but we decided to establish our business first.
"We're doing really well at the moment, particularly with our daytime trade and our function room downstairs is booked up most weekends for live music, parties and charity events.
"As well as being a meeting place for different groups such as mums and toddlers, we now open up at 8.30am, offering £1 breakfasts.
"Customers often mention to us that they would like to be able to sit outside, particularly in the summer – it's something most say they want to see.
"We are quite excited about our plan. Traffic is minimal and the location is ideal for an outside cafe. It will be good for us and the area."
Cassie, who is chairman of the Cultural Quarter Business Association, said she wanted to make the most of the open space in Orton Square.
"We want as much going on as possible," she said. "It's taken time, but footfall is increasing in this part of town."
Lauren Irwin, 29, of Leicester's West End, attends a morning breast feeding group at the bar with her six-month-old baby, Sam, and daughter Laura, three. She said she was in favour of the move.
"It's something I'd definitely use," she said. "Especially when the weather is nice, it would be great to sit outside with the mums and children."
Breast feeding counsellor Dana Hunter, 41, of Hinckley, who runs the group, said: "With its new snug family extension, Exchange is ideal for what we do. A cafe seating area outside would be great for mums to enjoy the sunshine with their babies and buggies."
The deadline for objections to be received by the city council before it considers the licence application is Wednesday, April 3. Representations should be made in writing to the council's Pub Safety Manager for Regeneration and Culture, A Block, New Walk Centre, Welford Place, Leicester, LE1 6ZG.
10 Comments
by ladyjanegrey
Saturday, March 23 2013, 9:19AM
“As a member of petes family and obviously seeking publicity for their family business,why not an open day for the people being left out due to hostels closing or being moved out of nursing homes.
A sure fire winner.
Plenty of takers.
Good photo shoot.
Everyone a winner.”
by anobserver
Friday, March 22 2013, 5:39PM
“Shall we rename the newspaper that is supposed to represent Leicester "Peter Mercury" ?
Deletion expected .”
by mivoice1
Thursday, March 21 2013, 1:39PM
“No doubt the One way traffic around Leicester's Cultural Quarter altered to ease traffic which was reported in the LM Nov 23rd is just a coincidence and had nothing to do with the exchange bar wanting to use outdoor seating.
Assistant city mayor Piara Singh Clair was quoted as saying : We will have our traffic department monitor what happens and then see how it works. At the end of six months we will decide what we change and what we don't. We hope it will help the public facilities in the area, like Curve and Phoenix, as well as private businesses."
It certainly seems to be helping one business….but it surely that is just a coincidence!”
by ladyjanegrey
Thursday, March 21 2013, 7:13AM
“Lets look at this article again.
Why is it "enviroment"and not "business"?
"pub safety manager"?Who dreamed that position up,at what cost?That he is in the same building with his boss,who has an interest in the plan is surely coincidental.
That the lady in the pic also works for her dad in the same building must again be coincidental.”
by Richy3
Wednesday, March 20 2013, 4:12AM
“@marog .Just check the councils own site to check members interests.pete is a shareholder.that the lady in the picture is his daughter must be coincidental.that she is also paid to be part of his staff is of no concern.that the,so called,planning committee are in the process of getting signs on pavements outside shops as they are "obsticles and a hazard" is surely not relevent in this issue.”
by Marog
Tuesday, March 19 2013, 6:35PM
“@ Democrat,
I'm aware he is alleged to have an interest in the bar. I'm not aware that it can be shown he can influence licencing decisions. Perhaps it can, but if you believe this to be the case I think you need to be able to provide evidence.
Call me old fashioned but I believe in the presumption of innocence. I'm also happy to be proved wrong.”
by Richy3
Tuesday, March 19 2013, 5:44PM
“here goes "our pete",looking after his own interests.showing his true colours.i bet none of the gutless clowncillors or the "planing committee" (a joke or what?)will object.”
by democrat
Tuesday, March 19 2013, 12:23PM
“Marog
Peter Soulsby has a financial interest in the success of this venture
If you want links I suggest that you check his 'Declaration of Interests' on the LCC website.”
by NickDiPerna1
Tuesday, March 19 2013, 11:47AM
“Cronyism!”
by democrat
Tuesday, March 19 2013, 8:32AM
“So the Mercury have now taken to promoting the business interests of Peter Soulsby?
Why no mention of the connection between Cassie Soulsby and the Glorous Leader? Did someone 'forget' or is transparency not on the agenda anymore?
Shoddy reporting”