Red tape and credit crunch force closure of Cromer bar
By Lucy Clapham
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
4:45 PM

Red tape and the recession have been blamed as the catalyst behind a decision to shut a popular Cromer nightspot.

Buddies bar and lounge, which opened less than two years ago, will close its doors for the last time this weekend with a farewell party.

Owner Gavin Armstrong said he did not want to close the Holt Road venue but "silly" licensing restrictions and the bleak economic climate had forced his arm.

Since opening in December 2009 he had struggled to overcome the district council's rules and regulations, which he said stifled his trade and cost him more than other Cromer pubs.

This combined with dwindling customer numbers as customers - in the face of the ongoing credit crunch - chose to drink at home had sounded the final death knell for the bar.

Mr Armstrong said: "I have had a long laborious battle with the authorities. The restrictions they have placed on my licence were initially OK because of the numbers of people we used to get in.

"Obviously in today's climate there's no one around, no one's got any money anymore. But the licence still required me to have a minimum of four doormen if I had a band or karaoke on, and an 11pm curfew. Just recently we were turning 80 people away on a Saturday because we can't let anyone in (after 11pm)."

Soon after Buddies opened in December 2009 it was granted a 24 hour licence, despite neighbours' complaints over rowdy revellers, and was attracting up to 400 people on its busiest nights. But Mr Armstrong said this number had now fallen to 20 on a Friday and 100 on a Saturday. He also said an increase in business rates and the bar's location outside the town centre had taken its toll.

The closure now means he will have to let his nine members of staff go as he returns to work in the construction industry.

"It's just not viable to run it," he added. "It's such a shame because it's such a nice venue. It hasn't been my decision to close it, it's (been) forced upon me for various different reasons."

The large venue has had a turbulent past having often changed hands after previously being run as the Buffers and the Station House pub.

Mr Armstrong, who invested £500,000 in refurbishing the bar when he took it over, questioned what more could be done to the former station house to make it viable again.

"For what I have done there I don't think anyone can top that. What else can you do?" he added.

North Norfolk District Council cabinet councillor for licensing Trevor Ivory said the council regretted the Buddies closure, but added: "We have been working with the tenant, Mr. Armstrong, and others over the past 12 months in the attempt to help him run a viable business, in which he has invested a large amount of money.

"However, we have also had to consider the legitimate concerns of local people and the police regarding the operation of a late night venue in a residential area and the licence variation granted with conditions in January 2010 reflected this attempt to reconcile the interests of the business with the interests of local residents.

"It is disappointing that the worsening economic climate over the past months has led Mr. Armstrong to decide to terminate his tenancy. It is, unfortunately, a reflection of problems facing the licensing trade right across the country