Dennistoun bar granted permission for beer garden despite Glasgow police concerns over anti-social behaviour

A Dennistoun bar has been granted permission to open a beer garden despite fears over noise and anti-social behaviour.

Glasgow’s Licensing Board agreed to vary La Cala’s licence to allow outdoor drinking after hearing the pub is “an attractive option to neighbours, families and people in the local community”.

There were 11 objections to Hawthorn Leisure Ltd’s bid to secure the licence change, including from Cllr Elaine McDougall and Dennistoun Community Council.

However, no objectors were present at the Licensing Board meeting, and Stephen McGowan, the licensing lawyer representing La Cala, said they were speculating “that the grant will lead to noise and anti-social behaviour”.

He said the pub’s managers, after listening to the complaints, were willing to impose an 8pm curfew on the beer garden instead of the usual 10pm. Councillors accepted this condition.

La Cala, on Meadowpark Street, is planning to open two outdoor areas, with one catering for 35 people and the other seating 22.

Mr McGowan said the current managers took over the premises in July 2019 and had “not had the easiest of starts”.

“I think it is fair to say, having met with them on a number of occasions, they have worked tirelessly to make this premises a well-run, proper community pub,” he added.

“This is not the La Cala, perhaps, of many years gone by,” he said, adding the bar made “positive contributions” to the local community, including fundraising and food bank collections.

“They have no desire to tolerate bad behaviour, drunkenness or anything of that nature.”

La Cala’s representative said the owners had removed a third outdoor area after feedback from the community. They are willing to listen to feedback, to work with the local community and to try to put forward something which meets those concerns,” he said.

Under the licence, the pub will not be able to play music in the beer gardens and visitors will have to be seated.

Mr McGowan said one objection referred to a violent incident but pointed out Police Scotland had not objected to the application for outdoor drinking.

He said two men had fallen out in the pub and were “exited” from the premises. “Some time later one of those gentlemen assaulted the other,” he added. “The pub was closed when the assault took place.”

Police had visited the pub while staff were cleaning up, Mr McGowan said, and were assisted with their enquiries.