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Chill Wine Bar in Tettenhall, owned by former Wolverhampton Wanderers defender Mo Camara, is seeking permission to extend its opening hours and play live and recorded music until later in the evening. The City of Wolverhampton Council has expressed concerns over this request, citing ongoing issues with the venue, particularly on weekends.
A council representative said: “It is of great concern that there appears to have been continuing issues with the premises on a number of occasions particularly Saturday nights and Sunday mornings even though there was a full review called in 2024 and that another full review has just been called for.”
A Tettenhall neighbor added: “There has been a history of disregard for local residents from people visiting the bar. We don’t blame the owner but loud music, trouble, inconsiderate parking, shouting, swearing already goes on so extending the operating hours will make matters worse for local residents. We live the other end of the high street and already put up with the issues. It’s also worth noting we have a lot of elderly residents in the village. Whilst we are happy to have a bar in the village, we need to be considerate to all local residents.”
The licensing hearing in 2024 revealed that many revellers in Tettenhall would conclude their evenings at Mr. Camara’s bar after leaving nearby pubs at midnight. To address this, the wine bar had previously agreed to align its closing time with nearby pubs to prevent attracting late-night crowds. However, licensing officers at the City of Wolverhampton Council have recommended that Mr. Camara be removed as the bar’s supervisor and for the licence to be suspended for up to three months.
Lisa Richardson-Lewty, representing Mr. Camara, stated: “The former footballer had made poor management decisions and the wine bar was now employing an established and knowledgeable supervisor that was a considered choice and not just a name on a piece of paper.” She emphasized that the wine bar could not afford to close for three months and was willing to remove Mr. Camara as the licence holder if necessary.
The council’s licensing manager, Greg Bickerdike, criticized Mr. Camara’s management, saying: “If he is not capable of understanding ‘don’t open past these hours’ then I don’t know what hope we have for the rest of the conditions being implemented correctly.”
The council’s concerns highlight a broader issue of balancing business operations with community welfare. As the wine bar seeks to extend its operating hours, it must navigate the challenges of maintaining good relations with local residents. The council’s decision will likely weigh heavily on the potential impact of extended hours on the community, especially with the presence of elderly residents in the village.
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