A POPULAR Worcester bar has been accused of breaching its licence by holding live music late into the night along with events including speed dating and fundraising drives.

According to its licence granted by Worcester City Council, Bindles brassiere at the corner of Sidbury and City Walls Road is permitted to sell alcohol until 1am – although the planning permission granted by the same authority means it must close by 12.30am – and sell food until 11pm.

The venue is also permitted under changes made to the Live Music Act in 2012 to hold music events between 8am and 11pm for up to 200 people without applying for a special licence.

But, speaking at a meeting of the council’s planning committee on Thursday, November 13, owner of next door Charlies Cafe Fran Frosh said the venue – which bills itself primarily as a restaurant – was breaching its licence by holding live music as well as other events.

“This is supposed to be Michelin star fine dining,” she said.

“It’s not supposed to be a big glass box full of drinkers.

“Fine dining establishments such as Browns do not lower the tone of their establishments with live music and events.”

A meeting was held between the management of Bindles and Mrs Frosh as well as officers from Worcestershire Regulatory Services – which encompasses the county’s Trading Standards division – as well as planning, licensing environmental health officers from Worcester City Council on Monday, November 17.

A spokesman from Worcester City Council said the concerns raised by Mrs Frosh were being “reviewed and monitored” but emphasised that an investigation into the situation was not currently being carried out.

Earlier this month Bindles was granted planning permission to build a 12 sq m roof terrace and a 123 sq m extension to its dining room along with a number of other alterations.

Although the restaurant had originally applied for the roof terrace to be 50 sq m long and the extension 130 sq m, these plans were blocked by the planning committee.

Bindles did not respond to several requests for comment from your Worcester News.