A TV chef’s bid to open his Clerkenwell Green restaurant for eight hours longer each week and serve more people alcohol without having to buy food has been thrown out.

Bill Granger had faced stiff opposition from residents who opposed the plan, which would have seen his Australian-style eatery at 50 Sekforde Street close at 11.30pm and open at 8am on Sundays.

Around 30 people from the area opposed the bid rejected by an Islington Council licensing committee.

A legal representative for Mr Granger told the committee at Islington Town Hall on Tuesday that they wanted to open earlier to serve breakfast and close later so customers were not hurried out after finishing their food and wine “which is not cheap”.

He said the restaurant wanted to be able to serve beer or wine to customers having meetings, adding: “It is not attractive to people wanting to consume large amounts of alcohol... Bill Granger is not about to become a barman.”

He rejected claims that the restaurant had not been abiding by its existing licensing conditions in its first year of operation.

Leora Neidle, for the residents, said: “This is about Bill Granger wanting to make more money.”

Other residents said the plan was the “thin end of the wedge” in an area in which quiet residential streets were already in close proximity to a host of bars, restaurants and pubs.

Councillors Gary Poole, Michelline Safi Ngongo and Angela Picknell rejected the restaurant’s application.

• Keywords
  RESTAURANTS, LICENSING (RESTAURANTS)
• Geographical keyword
  SEKFORDE STREET
• Persons keyword
  Clerkenwell [Restaurant] Granger and Co., Bill Granger