Ashby de la Zouch Town Council has given a mixed reception to the opening of two new eateries.

A recent meeting of the council's licensing committee considered applications from Calypso's in Bath Street, and XXX Buns in Bakery Court, off Market Street.

Councillors raised no representations for Calypso's, which is believed to have been planned as a Caribbean-style restaurant.

The plans, which would see the conversion of a former furniture shop, were given the go-ahead by North West Leicestershire District Council almost four years ago.

In a Design & Access Statement accompanying the application in 2019, from Mr Adam Buck of Measham, the restaurant plans fine dining as a licensed restaurant.

The statement adds: "We believe the proposed is an acceptable use of the existing building. We believe that there will bring benefits to the town of Ashby-de-la-Zouch, providing a quality fine dining restaurant providing both full and part-time employment and revenue to the local economy.

"We would therefore you to consider this application and grant the permission to change its use from a retail unit to a quality fine dining restaurant and that the extended replacement rear annex is an acceptable structure which is essential to the development as a whole."

XXX Buns in Bakery Court. Photo courtesy of XXXBuns

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But the Town Council raised concerns about XXX Buns after a licensing application was submitted to North West Leicestershire District Council.

It says it is: "Ashby De La Zouch's very own independent adult-themed street food venue."

The application is for the sale of alcohol to be consumed on the premises between the hours of 10am-midnight, Monday to Sunday, and the provision of late night refreshment between the hours of 11pm-midnight, Monday to Sunday.

At the Town Council licensing meeting, concerns were raised by Cllr Carl Benfield regarding crime and disorder, harm to children - as there is a gym nearby - noise and nuisance to nearby residents.

The committee agreed to raise a representation for the licensing application for XXX Buns on those grounds.

It was also agreed by the committee to invite a member of staff from North West Leicestershire District Council's Licensing Department to a subsequent meeting of the Town Council's planning and licensing committee.