'Enormous stress and sleepless nights' as city bar wants to open until 6am

Inside new Lost in Seel Street bar
-Credit:Lee Lawson Photography


A Moroccan and European inspired bar in the heart of Liverpool city centre faces a row over noise issues just six months after opening. Neighbours around the Lost in Seel Street location have spoken of “enormous stress and sleepless nights” amid alleged loud music and rowdy patrons leaving the site, formerly known as The Venue.

Sister site to the Lost in Lark Lane bar in the south of the city, an application has been submitted to extend its closing hours until 6am on Saturdays and Sundays. The proposals have caused concern from residents and officials alike, with opposition being raised by environmental health representatives.

They will now be considered in a showdown hearing of Liverpool Council’s licensing and gambling sub-committee next week. It was announced last summer the Lost brand would open its second location in the city centre’s nightlife hotspot having initially set up on Lark Lane. The venue holds a strong footprint in Seel Street with a 300-people capacity across its two floors.

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The new bar has Moroccan and European inspired décor and a mix of a sports bar and live lounge feel. Under its initial agreed terms, the business can trade from 8am to 5am daily, including a late night permission to sell alcohol until the small hours of the morning.

It is now seeking to extend that until 5.30am on Fridays as well as 6am on Saturdays and Sundays having reached an agreement with Merseyside Police. This would also include an extension to the existing non-standard timings on specific dates, including December 27, potentially allowing for a 7am closure.

Inside new Lost in Seel Street bar
Inside new Lost in Seel Street bar -Credit:Lee Lawson Photography

However, this has stirred up some fears among those residing around Seel Street. In a written objection to the city council’s committee, one person wrote: “Having lived in Colquitt Street for many years, noise nuisance increased dramatically from The Venue, this club is creating enormous stress and sleepless nights for next door residents including myself.

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“6am is totally unacceptable and this will cause further damage to our lives and health.” Another opponent wrote: “The current and ongoing noise issues caused by music escaping into the street, combined with unresolved environmental noise complaints, directly contradict the licensing objective of Prevention of Public Nuisance.

“Extending the premises’ operating hours and adding non-standard timings will significantly worsen these problems for local residents. I urge the licensing authority to reject this application unless comprehensive and enforceable noise management measures are introduced, and all ongoing investigations have been satisfactorily resolved.”

Dr Ian Rushforth from the city’s environmental health team, said “several” noise complaints had been received regarding the operation of the premises, despite only opening last summer. He wrote in a submission to the committee: “A warning letter has been sent to the premises, but at the time of writing environmental health has not received any response from the premises management.

“The proposed variation to the licence could exacerbate the noise issue.” The plans will be considered by the committee on Wednesday January 12. The ECHO attempted to contact Lost in Seel Street for comment.