A city centre takeaway will not be allowed to open until 5am at weekends after a row with police over whether longer hours would add to late-night trouble.

The bid by the owners of Fireaway Pizza in Angel Street, Worcester, has been turned down again by Worcester City Council’s licensing committee over concerns about alcohol-fuelled trouble and late-night disorder.  

Councillors did agree for the takeaway to open until 5am every Wednesday but rejected the longer weekend hours.

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At the licensing hearing in the Guildhall on August 29, Heath Thomas, who represented Fireaway Pizza, said police had got it wrong and the point of the licensing policy meant it only had to be proved that opening later would not ‘add’ to crime rather than reduce it.

Fireaway Pizza argued that crime had actually dropped by nearly ten per cent in the last 12 months since the takeaway opened and there was “no evidence” that Fireaway had contributed to crime and disorder.

West Mercia Police said it had “much concern” about Fireaway Pizza’s plans and said the takeaway had not shown “sufficient assurances” that it could handle any potential late-night disorder.

The takeaway currently opens until 1am every day – with hours restricted after a request to open for a further four hours was turned down by the council 12 months ago.

Worcester News:

Fireaway Pizza opened last August in chaotic scenes with West Mercia Police forced to close the city centre road after a procession of firebreathers and luxury cars met smoke bombs, a DJ and crowds flocking to Angel Street to be one of the first 100 to grab a free pizza.

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Police said this “poorly managed” event, which the force said wasted precious resources with officers having to enforce a road closure and deal with the large crowds, and a failure to work with the relevant authorities meant it still could not support any extension to the takeaway’s opening hours.

Fireaway Pizza said the opening day was “an exception rather than the norm” and asked to be judged on the last 12 months rather than just one day.

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Last year, the city council had turned down a request by the takeaway to open until 5am after police had raised concerns the late-night hours would fuel trouble in one of the city centre’s worst crime hotspots.

Officers challenged the application saying Angel Place was one of the city’s main anti-social behaviour hotspots at night and allowing another late-night venue to open would only add to a rise in crime, noise, traffic and litter.

The objection from police came in spite of both neighbouring takeaways Shakeeys and Best Kebab House having 6am and 5am closing times.