Silhouette bar closes temporarily due to licence objection

Silhouette, a restaurant and bar in Timberhill, opened on January 20 but will now be closed until Friday, March 10 after the objection relating to an application for a permanent alcohol licence between midday and midnight.

Co-owner Carlos Magalhaes estimates he will lose around £80,000 as councillors mull their decision on the licence which was due to begin on Tuesday, February 14, before it received a complaint.

Until then Mr Magalhaes and business partner Fabio Rodrigues had been running - previously the Bourgee restaurant which closed during the pandemic - on a series of temporary events notices which have now run out.

He is closing up until the licence is approved as he predicts he will lose more money by opening without serving alcohol than simply from closing.

Mr Magalhaes said: "Someone is not happy with the licence hours and now we have to close until March 10, I can't believe it.

"The council have been totally useless in trying to help. It's going to cost me between £70,000 and £80,000.

"It's someone with nothing better to do just doing it to cause trouble."

He believes a noise complaint was made prior to his ownership of the building.

He said: "We didn't have any complaints made against our business or ourselves. We applied for the premises licence on December 20.

"I was running the business and was told if there were no objections I should have my premises licence on February 14. After the consultation someone objected on February 13 which made our lives a bit complicated."

Mr Magalhaes added: "I'm just trying to run my business without interferences. We're very responsible and our aim is to make friends not enemies."

Norwich City Council received two complaints about noise but one has been withdrawn.

A council spokeswoman said national legislation had dictated their actions, explaining: “Because the venue did not apply for a permanent licence before it opened, it has been running on a series of temporary licences, which have now run out.

"This means that until the committee sits on March 10, the venue is allowed to open and trade, but must not sell alcohol.

"We would always encourage anyone setting up a business to make sure the right licences are in place from the start to prevent situations like this from occurring.”