Baku, the land of fire and silk, the
host city for Eurovision 2012, the scientific, cultural and industrial centre
of Azerbaijan, or is it a bar on the A49, Charnock Richard?
Baku Lounge, which is planning to be
the latest venue at the Hunters Lodge, is advertising that it will be opening
on 22 June. With some more careful planning the opening night could have coincided
with the final of the Eurovision Song Contest and an opportunity for a
Eurovision party on 26 May has been missed!
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| The Hunters Lodge, many years ago |
Whilst not obvious from the outside
I have been told that a considerable amount of refurbishment has taken place
inside, my opinion is that it will be good to see the building being used once
again and any renovation can only improve the appearance of the building.
Hopefully the venture will be successful and will contribute to, rather than
adversely affecting, the community.
There has been some speculation and
concern over the licence application which is for 24/7 eating, drinking and
dancing and several concerned residents have contacted me, including one
resourceful person who, thanks to the wonders of social media, tracked me down
at my desk at work. I have contacted Baku and they have stated that plans are
to be open Friday and Saturday evening and on a Sunday, so not 24/7, though
specific times have not been provided. The times advertised for the opening
event are 19:00 to 02:00 so it is possible that these might be the evening
opening hours.
Having had discussions with the Public
Protection Officer at Chorley Council a 24/7 application provides the
proprietor with the greatest opportunity to make the venture a success, as the
opening hours will be dictated by economics. The officer was adamant that any
breach of the licence conditions will be treated seriously and action will be
taken, with a 24/7 licence the conditions are the same regardless of the time
of day.
Anyone with any comments to make (in
support of, or opposition to the application) can do so, by contacting Chorley Council please note that any objection must relate to the licensing objectives
and include facts not supposition of what might happen. The Department for
Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) “Guidance issued under section 182 of the
Licensing Act 2003 Consolidated Version published 10 December 2009” is relevant
and is linked here.
There remains much rumour over the
exact type of venue this might be, I know no more than anyone else and can only
go off the licence application. Whilst not directly connected to this
application, the same applicant intended to renovate New Southworth Hall (which
many will remember as Campions) on Cuerdale Lane, Samlesbury, into an Upmarket
Cocktail Lounge called Baku and gained Listed Building Consent in 2010 for a
single storey extension to the rear, formation of a covered seating area and
outdoor area enclosed by a 3.2m high perimeter wall (07/2010/0356/LBC), for
whatever reason this has not happened and the property has since been sold.
Baku not, in this instance, the
largest city on the Caspian Sea but a bar on the A49 in Charnock Richard and
hopefully in harmony with the community, not causing residents to be fired up but
running smooth as silk.
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