Walkabout runs into opposition (From The Oxford Times)

Walkabout runs into opposition

8:55am Tuesday 1st August 2006 in

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Australian pub chain Walkabout has tabled fresh plans to open a giant bar in Oxford, just 10 months after being told they were not welcome.

The Oxford Mail has discovered that Regent Inns, the company that owns Walkabout, has submitted an application for a premises licence to turn Bar Risa in Hythe Bridge Street into a larger drinking venue.

Regent Inns needs a new licence because it plans to increase its size from Bar Risa's current 250-person capacity to 400.

Walkabout, which has become one of the biggest and most popular city centre drinking venues in the UK, bases its Antipodean theme around so-called 'vertical drinking' with very few tables and chairs.

'I am not being a killjoy, all you have got to do is see the effect alcohol has on binge drinking and the effect that has on those who live nearby'

Paul Sargent

In September 2005, after months of legal wrangling, Regent Inns was told a Walkabout in the disused Opium Den restaurant in Worcester Street would increase city centre drink-fuelled violence, a problem the police already had trouble tackling.

Prior to the new Licensing Act coming into force, Oxford adopted a 'saturation policy' where licensing chiefs agreed no more city centre drinking venues should be allowed.

However, as Regent Inns already owns the Bar Risa/Jongleurs site, their plans effectively mean a rebranding exercise.

Independent city councillor Paul Sargent, in whose Carfax ward the site stands, said: "The Walkabout brand is high-level, vertical drinking in nature - in other words they pack them in and supply very cheap drinks and there is little in the way of tables and chairs.

"I am not being a kill-joy, all you have got to do is see the effect alcohol has on binge drinking and the effect that has on those who live nearby."

The deadline for consultation on the proposal is August 18.

Walkabout spokesman Matt de Leon said: "There is nothing definite at the moment and Jongleurs will definitely stay.

"All we are considering is perhaps changing Bar Risa to Walkabout, it's rebadging if you like.

"It's too early to discuss details at the moment."

City councillor Susanna Pressel, shadow portfolio holder for crime and community safety, said: "The police and many residents feel there enough late night venues in Oxford city centre so we were pleased when the previous application was refused.

"It's bad news they are back again and how typical they are applying when lots of people are on holiday."

Police spokesman Kate Smith said: "Thames Valley Police has made representations to the city council concerning this application due to the substantial changes proposed to the existing premises and the increase in capacity."