A WINCHESTER pizza takeaway has applied to stay open until 3am, with a nearby nightclub saying it could cause security problems.

Papa John's, in St George's Street, has applied to Winchester City Council for the extension.

This comes after Vodka Bar and Nightclub, in Upper Brook Street, was successful in applying to extend its opening hours to 4am.

However, Vodka co-owner Kalvin Collymore has submitted an objection to the proposal.

He said: “We at Vodka Nightclub would like to object to the application that has been submitted on the grounds that this will potentially bring more people to the Upper Brook street area of the city for food. This will cause people to linger in the area which could potentially cause an issue for our security team in relation to public nuisance as I’m sure the residents will have noise complaints as the Papa John’s customers will be right under their flats. 

“Our security team already have the job of keeping the area clear and quiet as it is from our own customers who are leaving the area and this would cause problems for them when pizza customers become hostile for being approached by our security for asking them to keep the noise down. 

“Papa John’s delivery drivers will be driving in and out of the rear car park continuously causing a severe problem to the pedestrians coming to and leaving Vodka.”

Hampshire Chronicle:

A nearby resident also objected. Mr Collins, of Upper Brook Street, said: “I already have to close all my windows because of the smells of cooking pizzas. It makes all my furniture and clothes stink of pizza. In addition to that the slamming of car doors and engines running from the delivery drivers and the mopeds screaming in and out. It will encourage more drunken people to descend on the area to purchase takeaway pizza, causing more nuisance shouting and arguing and even more mess from empty pizza boxes. 

“I know it’s a city centre and a nightclub is very close, this will just make customers hang about longer too.”

READ MORE: Winchester nightclub Vodka granted permission to stay open to 4am

Currently, Papa John's operates from 11am to 11pm, seven days a week. The application is looking to extend that from 11pm to 3am.

On the application to the city council the applicant, Hamble Foods Ltd, said: “We do not serve alcohol at our premises. We do not have a customer seating area or toilets in the premises. The food is takeaway or delivery only.

“Customers will be asked not to stand around taking in the street outside the premises and asked to leave the vicinity quickly and quietly. Our car drivers are aware they should arrive and depart as quietly as possible, should not sound vehicle horns as a sign of their arrival or leave engines running unnecessarily. We do not have any bike drivers at the moment. The movement of bins and rubbish outside the premises will be kept to a minimum after 10.30pm.”

The application will be decided by Winchester City Council's licensing sub-committee on January 17.