A HAWORTH bar will have to close an hour earlier on weekends after a licensing committee heard local residents speak of problems caused by the business.

Treehouse Bar and Kitchen opened in Spring on Oak Street - in the former Chaplains Bistro premises.

Yesterday Bradford Council's Licensing Panel held a review of the bar's licence, following complaints that it had led to late night noise and disruption for people living near the bar.

After hearing from both residents and the operators of the popular business, members decided voted in favour of a proposal by Environmental Health officers that the bar be required to shut at 11pm on Friday and Saturday, rather than midnight.

Among the complaints sent to the Council by residents were that noise from punters in the bar would keep them awake at night, that customers would park on narrow Oak Street when visiting, and that there had been an increase in litter and anti-social behaviour since the bar opened.

Speaking on behalf of the objectors, Daniel Sands said: "Since opening it has become an awful place to live. There has been a massive increase in traffic."

Barley Mow pub to reopen, with new licensee assuring residents there will be 'no disco'

He said the outdoor seating area, located in the car park of the business, was behind much of the noise.

The issues began shortly after the bar opened, and was worst on the weekend.

Other objectors said taxis would regularly travel down narrow Oak Street to drop off and pick up customers - despite the bar suggesting all customers use the nearby Gas Street Car Park.

The panel was told that the Treehouse Bar had a capacity for around 400 people, and currently has a licence to open until 11pm on weekdays and until midnight on Friday and Saturday.

Although an Environmental Health visit earlier this month found no serious licence breaches, officers suggested that due to the numerous reports of late night noise the bar be ordered to close earlier.

Ben Comstive, who manages the bar, told the panel customers are asked to come inside at 10pm, and that staff did what they could to keep noise down.

He said if the outdoor seating area had remained a car park, it would have caused more issues due to traffic coming into and out of the site via Oak Street. Everyone making a booking at the bar was sent a map directing them to the Gas Street car park.

But he acknowledged that some customers do still park on Oak Street.

He hit back at claims that the bar catered mainly to a young crowd, pointing out that during the day they would often get three generations visiting the restaurant for food.

He added: "Since we've opened we have done everything physically possible to keep noise under control. It would be unfair to take an extra hour of trading away from us. It is a successful operation that sees people from across the area coming to Haworth. You would be taking an hour away from us when we haven't done anything wrong."

Mr Comstive said they would support some measures suggested by Environmental Health officers, but were against the suggestion the bar shut an hour earlier.

Frank Stott, Director of Treehouse Bars ltd, said he felt the objections were a "personal witch hunt" by Mr Sands.

Mr Sands replied: "To say I have a personal vendetta is ridiculous.

"To say a 400 plus person venue without parking on a residential street won't cause issues is unbelievable."

After a two hour debate on the issue, members of the panel voted to bring forth closing time on Friday and Saturday to 11pm.

The representatives of the bar were told they could appeal the decision in the courts.