Five Guys is opening a new branch in Manchester city centre next month – but plans to serve food 24 hours a day have been met with opposition from locals who argue that it will encourage antisocial behaviour.
The burger chain has applied for a late licence to serve customers all day, every day at the Piccadilly Gardens site.
It has also submitted a request for a premises licence permitting it to serve alcohol from 11am to midnight all week.
Manchester Evening News said the brand faces a fight to convince councillors that its kitchen should be allowed to be operational for 24 hours a day due to concerns raised by residents.
Some claim that it will exacerbate crime and increase public nuisance.
The paper said one resident had emailed the council stating: “Piccadilly Gardens should be an area where families should feel safe to visit and, as I am sure you are aware, this is already not the case […] the addition of a venue with a 5am licence will only add to the problems Piccadilly Gardens already suffers from.”
Five Guys operates 125 stores in the UK and made sales of £164m during its last financial year for which accounts are available.
IMAGE CREDIT: Zack Seymour
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