By Carmelo Garcia – Local Democracy Reporter
A Cotswold town bar, which is working on Gloucester’s M5 services Christmas charity drinks range, has been given the go-ahead to stay open into the small hours of the morning at weekends.
Holy Water, in Stroud, was granted a licence to sell alcohol for consumption on and off the premises at 11 Lansdown seven days a week in October 2024
Its founder Adam McVay applied for permission to extend the opening hours from 11pm until 1.30am on Fridays and Saturdays.
The previous licence allowed the sale of alcohol and for recorded music to be played until 11pm.
But We Are Holy Water will now be able to serve booze and play music until 1am on those two days, after Stroud District Council approved the licence variation application.
The latest proposals also include allowing people to drink in the garden to the rear.
However, this area will be closed to members of the public at 10pm.
People who live along Lansdown in Stroud raised concerns over the initial plans for a new bar to open in the street last year.
Environmental officers raised concerns over noise the licensing hearing at Ebley Mill on July 2.
They had received a complaint from the home above the bar in December.
Some residents also raised concerns over the potential for noise from people under the influence of alcohol when returning to their parked cars late at night.
And they were worried the proposed extension of the business hours would have an impact on nearby residents being able to sleep.
Adam McVay, who spoke at the meeting, said the bar opens 14 hours a week.
He told councillors of the work he is doing with charities and the opportunities he provides for young people.
“Fundamentally, we open from 5pm until 11pm o’clock on Friday and Saturday,” he said.
“If I didn’t have an events company that’s based in London, this wouldn’t be a profitable business.
“If we shut at 11pm, we are losing quite a lot of business because we’ve got the people from the Sub rooms, people from Juliet who are coming.
“We are probably missing out on £1,000 a week.
“The reason why I’m doing this, and I have done this, is for me to have more purpose.”
He said he is working with charities such as Gloucester Gateway Trust, Future Dreams, the River Severn [Trusts], Parents for Future.
Mr McVay also said he pays his staff £15 an hour which is “more than anybody else”.
“This is, this is because I’m trying to create a culture of people that I’m training.
“We’re working with Gloucester Services, and we’re creating a range of drinks for Gloucester Services for the Christmas range, where all the profits are going to charities.
“I’m doing it because I started as a 16 year old bartender and run away from Luton and went to London, and I’ve done it right out of it, and I want to do the same, and I want to give back to those many young people that do feel a bit like I don’t know what to do with my life.
“And so this extra hour, 1.5, 2 hours, it’s just more of a comfort zone for me to be able to say, OK, cool, we’ve made a little bit of extra money that I can really pay and keep the business going.”
Councillor Martin Brown (G, Bisley) said the council did not want to have more complaints.
He asked what would be done if there are complaints from nearby.
“How can we be reassured that we are not going to get those complaints and we won’t be back here with you?
Mr McVay said they are not having any complaints currently.
The police have not been called out and they are very respectful, he said.
“I think the only major concern we are ever going to have moving forward is if there is a problem with the garden”, he said.
“It’s about being an adult and talking about it. If we are having things in the garden and it is too loud, we go from 10pm to 8pm.
“I’m not here to hinder people’s lives, especially if they have small children or are old.”
The panel decided to grant the application as applied for. The outside garden area is to be closed to the public at 10pm
Notices will be displayed in the garden and at all exits to the garden requesting patrons to respect the needs of local residents and businesses and to leave the area quietly.