A popular wine bar in the affluent Salford suburb of Worsley has been given the go ahead to play live music late at night. But not everyone is happy. 

The Delph near the Worsley Court House roundabout was brought back to life by owner Phil Campbell when it was converted from offices into a restaurant and wine bar in 2020.

But stringent restrictions were imposed by Salford city council’s planners, preventing live music from being performed beyond the hours of 10pm.

Mr Campbell wanted to stretch the live performance time until midnight, but councillors on the city’s planning and transportation regulator panel have now opted to allow only an extra hour and have stipulated all doors and windows must be closed when the acts are on. It means live music can now be played until 11pm. 

Nine letters of objection were submitted, but 33 others were sent in support. Worsley Coun Robin Garrido pointed out that those in favour were not necessarily people living near to the premises.

In a verbal submission to the panel Mr Campbell said he and joint owner Natalie Robinson had spent ‘hundreds of thousands of pounds’ bringing The Delph building ‘back to its former glory’.

He said that live performances took place only at the weekend and were single or duet ‘acoustic artists’ – not full bands with drums.

“It’s a meeting place for the local community and for local businesses,” he said. “The [restricted] trading hours are having a major impacting our business financially and on our customer footfall. 

“For everyone to be off the premises at 11pm we have to call last orders at 10.15pm.”

He said that there were eight similar businesses within a half-a-mile radius of The Delph, which all have late opening hours. “This is having a massive effect on our business,” he added. 

Objecting to the proposal Coun Garrido said: “Can you imagine what noise there would be with 40 people outside on the pavement leaving the place?

“It means the neighbours would need to have their windows closed throughout the summer. We are not objecting to the fact there is a wine bar there, or the existing operating hours. It’s the increased hours that are causing objections.

“There are not 30-plus supporters of this proposal that live within earshot of the wine bar.”