New tapas bar is coming to Cheltenham
A tapas bar serving up good food, good wine and music is coming to Cheltenham's desirable Montpellier area.
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A new tapas bar where people can “enjoy good food and a nice bottle of wine” will soon open in Cheltenham town centre.
Licensing chiefs have approved Aaron Maximen’s plans for Jebou at 4 Montpellier Walk to serve alcohol, play live and recorded music and provide late night food.
His plan is to run a restaurant serving small tapas style plates of food, with a mixture of high quality wines, gins and spirits, along with non-alcoholic beverages and occasional live music, fitting with the atmosphere.
The proposals for the site were considered by Cheltenham Borough Council today (June 4).
Some 11 people objected to the proposals raising concerns over noise and public nuisance.
Mr Maximen told the licensing sub-committee that he held a question and answer session with residents to address any concerns.
“Montpellier is obviously a really nice area and the concept I’m trying to bring will add to the community,” he said.
“The main thing is to add rather than subtract.
“It’s going to be a restaurant not a night club with a dancefloor and live music that goes on until god knows what time.
“With my concept it is based on places that I’ve travelled to.
“I don’t like to go clubbing and be in an environment where there are loads of young people drinking Jaggerbombs, for example.
“It’s more of an environment where people can converse until 11.30pm on a Saturday.
“They can drink wine and have small plates as the food is tapas. That allows people to still be in a place that has that atmosphere with food and drink.
“The demographic of people in that area are not going to be people that want to get drunk.
“It’s more of a social place where people can enjoy a nice bottle of wine, good food and a good ambiance.”
Mr Maximen has been granted permission to sell alcohol at the premises from 9 am to 10pm Sunday to Thursday and until 12.30am on Fridays and Saturdays.
The premises licence also allows recorded music to be played from 9am until 11.30pm from Monday to Thursday and until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays and until 10pm on Sundays. Live music will be allowed from 7pm until these cut off times.
Late night food will be served until 11pm from Monday to Thursday and until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays with none provided on Sundays.
The committee voted unanimously to grant the premises licence as applied for with conditions agreed with the police and environmental health officers.
By Carmelo Garcia, local democracy reporter for Gloucestershire. carmelo.garcia@reachplc.com