Bradford Shisha Bar’s Late Opening Request Denied for Second Time

A shisha bar in Bradford has once again been denied permission to operate until the early hours of the morning. Rehana Lounge, which had a previous application to extend its opening hours rejected in March, resubmitted its plans after a noise assessment was conducted. Rashid Moghul, representing Rehana Lounge, pointed out that other establishments nearby operate until 02:00 GMT and requested “the same freedom and flexibility” for the venue. During a meeting on Wednesday, a resident living near the White Abbey Road premises voiced concerns that extended opening hours would be “detrimental to the mental health and wellbeing of residents.” The proposals attracted 31 objections, with some objectors alleging that the business was opening, serving food, and playing music beyond its approved closing time – an assertion denied by the venue. According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, plans to convert the former bookstore into several smaller businesses were approved in 2018. In 2020, permission was granted to transform one of these businesses into a cafe, on the condition that it close by 23:00, with the location subsequently becoming Rehana Lounge. The new application aimed to extend operating hours on Friday and Saturday, allowing the venue to remain open until 02:00. A 6ft (1.8m) screen was installed on the bar’s balcony to block views and sound from the adjacent Hardaker Street, intending to reduce disturbances. Despite this measure, members voted to refuse the plans. Councillor Brendan Stubbs, who was part of the panel that rejected the earlier application, stated: “I haven’t seen anything today that would make me change my decision from March.”