Oxford City Council has rejected a bid by Popeyes on Queen Street to significantly extend its late-night opening hours, following opposition from a neighbouring bar and Thames Valley Police.
The American fast-food chain, which currently opens from 8.00am to 10.00pm daily, had applied to stay open until 1.00am and offer deliveries until 2.00am, according to Local Democracy Reporter Esme Kenney.
However, the application met strong resistance from Hank’s Bar, which shares a frontage with Popeyes and operates until 2.00am and 3.00am on various nights of the week.
A special Licensing and Gambling Committee meeting held on Monday 12 May evening heard objections from both the bar and the police, citing concerns over safety, noise, and overcrowding.
Rob Opher of Hank’s Bar submitted a written objection before the meeting, warning about the practicalities of managing footfall on an already congested city street. “Queen Street is an incredibly busy street and what you’re asking to do is to add more people, and that’s ultimately my concern,” he said.
“You are a great family restaurant that wants to stay open after families want to go out, so you are looking for a new market. As a businessperson I completely respect and understand [that], but that doesn’t pull back from the issues that happen later on in the evening with large volumes of people. We are busy, you are and there are too many people on Queen Street.”
Thames Valley Police also objected, saying the extended hours could turn the premises into a hotspot for crime and anti-social behaviour, echoing earlier concerns raised during a similar application by McDonald’s in Cornmarket Street. That proposal was also turned down.
While Popeyes argued that its alcohol-free offer distinguished it from late-night bars, a representative for the company told the meeting they were willing to amend the request — proposing closure to the public at midnight, with deliveries and rider collections allowed until 2.00am.
In the end, the council ruled that Popeyes could open until 11.00pm from Sunday to Thursday and until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, with delivery-only services permitted up to 2.00am on all days.
The restaurant will also take last orders 15 minutes before closing, and two door supervisors will be stationed outside from 7.00pm until shortly before closing, as part of the agreed licence conditions.
The same meeting saw rival US chain Wendy’s granted permission to trade later into the night. Its Magdalen Street branch will now be able to remain open until midnight between Sundays and Wednesdays, and until 2.00am on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.
Read more: Wendy’s in Oxford gets approval for extended late-night opening hours despite police concerns
Hank’s Bar, which launched in 2017 on the former Maxwell’s site, continues to serve food and cocktails into the early hours and will now operate alongside both late-night chains under the revised conditions.
