CHICAGO Rock Cafe moved a step closer to ensuring the future of its new £970,000 development in Bishop's Stortford when it was granted a public entertainments licence.

Owner company Luminar Leisure now needs an alcohol licence to guarantee its 25-year lease within Anchor Street's cinema and bowling complex, where it intends to build a restaurant and bar. The lease is conditional on both licences being granted.

On Thursday, July 13, Luminar representatives fiercely rejected local criticism of the development at a lengthy East Herts Licences sub-committee meeting.

A company representative said there had been 'a lot of misinformation' about the development, which objectors believed could be turned into a nightclub.

He said the venue would be used as a themed bar and restaurant, not as a nightclub.

A dance floor could only hold a maximum of 50 people, and late drinking would be restricted since the venue would close at 1am.

Objectors, including representatives from nightclub H2O, argued that potential problems generated by late night drinkers at the venue could stretch police resources.

However Bishop's Stortford Police Inspector Bob Radwell raised no objections to the licence.

He said CCTV cameras, with sound, would reduce the likelihood of any trouble in the area.

The committee decided to grant the licence after 15 minutes of private discussion.