Brand new micro-pub gets green light in Dudley

After opening its first branch in Dickens Heath, Solihull, in September 2020, The Ale Hub Ltd has successfully been expanding. The new site in Kingswinford, which was formerly a betting shop, will be its sixth micro-pub and will be open to locals from 12pm to 11.30pm.

Owners say they aim to provide the community with a choice of refreshing and well-kept beverages in a relaxed and friendly environment. Owner Connor McDiarmid said: “Our focus is on selling premium craft beer and real ales as well as high-quality gins. These tend to be quite premium brands and we’re not a cheap style pub which sells cheap beer, we focus on quality.

“We believe our niche is different from most chain stores as we are purely wet led so we don’t serve food. Our focus is also away from families, which is evidenced by our no children after 6pm rule.”

The property has previously transformed a newsagent and a bank as well as another betting shop.

An objection to the licence was received from a resident who lives upstairs and said that the new licence would damage her health. The objector said: “The granting of a licence to open a micro-pub would be detrimental to my health, especially if they intend to have music as we already have problems with a wireless playing in the barbershop next door.

“Deliveries to this place would also cause problems as a busy car park would have to be crossed to gain access. There is also a problem with young people congregating at the rear of the building and the police are well aware of this having dealt with numerous complaints and incidents.”

In reply, Mr McDiarmid added: “We will have signs requesting patrons to respect our neighbours as they leave the premises this will help the prevention of altercations. Background music inside the venue will also be kept to a low volume.”

Anyone now wishing to appeal against the licence will have 21 days to do so.