A SHADOW licence has been granted to a bar beneath a block of student housing, despite opposition from university officials.

The unusual request for a licence mirroring the existing one was made by the owner of the building occupied by Zephyr due to concerns that the licence held by the current tenant could be lost.

Despite the proposals including a reduction in the hours live music could be played, Arts University Bournemouth senior student services officer, Carrie Packer, said that noise from the bar, which can open until 5am every day, was “intrusive and disruptive”.

Although shadow licences have been granted in Bournemouth in the past, the chairman of Bournemouth council’s licensing sub-committee, Cllr Andrew Morgan, said it was an “unusual” request.

The application had been opposed by university officials and representatives of the Christchurch Road building’s owners, Wilson and Sharp Investments, due to the impact noise was having on students living in the block above the bar.

Carrie Packer said: “We have received, over the past year, a number of complaints from our students regarding the disturbance.

“This has resulted in several cases where we have had students leave and we had to relocate them due to the noise disturbance.

“Since September we have had two people leave and seven people refused accommodation here because of reviews students left last year.”

Jessica Hundrieser, general manager for the building’s owner, Wilson and Sharp Investments, said that there was a threat that the university would not renew its agreement for the building beyond the existing deal which ends in 2020.

“We have complained to Zephyr on several occasions about the disturbance being caused.

“Arts University Bournemouth will probably not extend the licence because of the issue they have been facing – and that’s a loss of business for us.”

However, the solicitor representing the bar’s owner, Natasha Hawa, at Wednesday’s meeting, Philip Day, said that the shadow licence had only been requested due to concerns her current tenant could lose theirs.

He said that Ms Hawa had been made aware of the possibility of action being taken against the current licence-holder, including the potential for the licence to be taken away.

“That represented a threat to her premises and she wanted to protect her position is case action was taken against the current licence holder,” Mr Day said.

“This application is about securing her business and the licence will not be used unless the existing one is either revoked or surrendered.”

Councillors agreed to grant the shadow licence with Cllr Morgan saying that changes made, including restrictions to how late live music can be played, “struck a balance” between both sides.