New bar opening at Blackheath barbershop applies for alcohol licence

The 30-year-old owner of a new bar opening in a Blackheath barbershop has applied for a liquor licence. A new micropub, The Last Jar, will take over most of the building that currently houses The Barber Shop in Beet Street, Blackheath.

The license application seeks permission to sell alcohol between 11am and 11pm Monday to Saturday and between 11am and 10.30pm on Sundays. Proposed bar hours are 11:00am to 11:30pm Monday to Saturday and 11:00am to 11:00pm on Sundays.

A small barbershop, which has been open since 1991, will remain in the building. In a separate planning application, owner Neil Clulow also asked Sandwell Council to allow “low level” recorded music and “very occasional” live music to be played in the new bar.

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A statement included in the application said: “We believe it is unreasonable to expect a city center bar not to play amplified live or recorded music. This will be a city center bar and all other city center pubs and bars play amplified, live and recorded music.

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“For 33 years, this building has been a barbershop where recorded music is played all day. Playing music at the new micro bar will not have any detrimental effect on any neighboring businesses or residents. The first floor space above the proposed micro-bar has been occupied as offices for over 20 years and the first floor is constructed of precast concrete planks which have excellent acoustical soundproofing properties.”

A planning application to convert most of the ground floor of the barbershop into the new bar was approved by Sandwell Council last November. The work includes new ramps, a new entrance and partitions.