Pub crawl route restaurant must not serve revellers

A Vietnamese restaurant in Leeds has been told it can have an alcohol licence - as long as it does not serve drinkers on a famous pub crawl.

Lam's Kitchen, on Otley Road in Headingley, applied to serve drinks until 22:30 daily, but faced objections.

The restaurant is on the Otley Run route which draws thousands of fancy-dress pub crawlers to the area at weekends.

Leeds City Council had 13 letters of concern which said another alcohol venue could add to anti-social behaviour on the pub crawl.

"In recent years I have been dismayed by the transformation of the area as a consequence of the exponential expansion of the Otley Run," one objection said.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Vu Tran, who runs the restaurant, told councillors he was planning to expand the business and create jobs.

"We've got plans to refurbish the shop, to make it better for the community," he said.

"We are hiring more employees."

When asked if he agreed with measures to exclude Otley Runners from the premises, Tran said he was "very happy with that".

The licensing hearing was told West Yorkshire Police initially objected too, but it was withdrawn after an agreement with the premises.

The venue was in a Cumulative Impact Area (CIA), councillors were told, which means it was designated as suffering from high levels of alcohol-related disorder.

People living near the route have called for it to be recognised as an official event so it can be made safer, after two women were injured in a crossbow attack.

Residents and other groups have also long-complained about rowdy behaviour.

Lam's Kitchen was told it must only serve alcohol with food, and to seated customers.

No tables or chairs can be placed outside, and the restaurant must not be promoted as an Otley Run venue.

Pub crawlers in fancy dress or with Otley Run signage must not be allowed, the restaurant was told.

Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.