Bid for piano bar licence at church hits right note

A man behind controversial plans to turn a church into a piano bar said he wanted it to be "classy" and "somewhere you might put a proper shirt on to go to".

People living near the vacant St Michael at Plea Church in Norwich had objected to an application for an alcohol licence for the site, with concerns raised over the potential for antisocial behaviour.

Norwich City Council, however, granted one to John Taylor, who said he was looking to make the venue "a conversational, slightly cultured place, all-seated with a grand piano".

He will still need planning permission to develop the church into a bar.

Several neighbours had opposed a licence being granted with one warning potential noise would "would profoundly disrupt our home life", whilst another said she was already "scared" to walk in the area because of street drinkers.

A meeting about the application was deferred earlier this month so councillors could consider more information about the potential noise impact of a bar.

Mr Taylor said he understood why there might be concerns but he wanted it to be a "positive influence on the local area".

He hoped it would provide a venue for local performers.

"Norwich has a huge number of really good acoustic musicians," he added.

A decision on planning permission for the bar is due next month.

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