A NEW late night venue for live music and functions is set to open later this year.

The Den, which will be housed on the first floor of New Victoria Mills, Wellington Street, Bury has been granted and alcohol, entertainment, music and refreshments licence until 3.30am each day.

Applicants Den Contracts NW said they intend to open a multi-purpose events space in the former mill.

In their licensing application, they state: “It is intended that the premises will be a venue catering for a diverse clientèle.

“It will offer a space for functions such as birthdays and also host events such as live music acts with local artists and DJs.”

A licensing panel of Bury Council heard that the application had been initially objected to by the fire service.

They issued a prohibition notice preventing the use of the area for any assembly of people.

They cited ‘inadequate means of escape in the event of fire’, inadequate alarms and that the escape route had been declared unsafe by building control.

However, further talks between the venue and the fire authority have taken place and the venue will only open when extensive works have been completed and the fire service passes those as safe.

Addressing the licensing panel, Samantha Ford, representing Den Contracts said: “We now have an agreement in place with the fore service.

“The applicant is planning on spending a large amount of money on the property but wanted to get the premises licence in place prior to spending those funds.

“The works will now be done to comply with fire safety.

“It’s not that the client did not want to do the fire safety works it was just the timing and when was best to do it.

“Once the work has been done the fire officer will be invited to asses the premises.

“We won’t be able to trade until they are happy.”

An objection from a neighbour about noise was withdrawn after a report demonstrated that no noise disturbance could be heard at the objector’s premises even when the sound system at the venue was switched to maximum.

Miss Ford added that the venue was hoping to open in around three of four months time.

Although the licence for alcohol and entertainment was granted until 3.30am the application stated that would not be the norm.

It said: “It is not intended that the premises will trade the full extent of the hours or days sought by the application but permissions are sought for the purpose of flexibility.”

The panel granted the licence subject to the condition imposed by the fire authority.