Argent loses Paradise Forum licensing fight

Argent Properties has lost its fight to prevent McDonald’s opening into the early hours at the heart of its Paradise Forum scheme in Birmingham. The developer announced last June that it was investing £2m upgrading the retail and leisure space, which forms the link between the city centre core and Argent’s Brindleyplace. Work is well underway, prompting McDonald’s to ask the city’s licensing sub-committee if it could open its fast-food restaurant until 5am on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Argent director Gary Taylor’s objections saw the burger giant scale back its application to 3:30am, but Taylor asked councillors to reject the revised proposal. “Paradise Forum has let down the whole of Birmingham for the last ten years, but we are transforming the place,” he said. “This application runs a real risk of increasing crime and disorder, and McDonald’s could become a honey pot for the sort of activity we don’t want to see.” However, West Midlands Police did not support Taylor, and the committee accepted the revised opening hours, after hearing that McDonald’s would install CCTV and employ bouncers.