A CITY centre sandwich shop is set to become York's first 24-hour takeaway - but only if it plays by pub rules.

Subway, in Clifford Street, has been given the go-ahead to serve customers around the clock, following the decision by a City of York Council licensing panel.

But the permission is subject to Subway signing up to the city's Pubwatch scheme, which aims to minimise late-night disorder.

Door staff will also operate between 10pm and 3am on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

The outlet is the first in the city to be allowed to open non-stop. A public consultation had prompted objections from only two individuals, and no organisations.

Wayne Dixon, the franchisee of Subway's Clifford Street outlet, said: "We are delighted that our application for 24-hour opening has been given the go-ahead by the council.

"There are currently no takeaways in York which are open 24 hours. Therefore, the store's new hours will mean that all members of the community will be able to enjoy our offering, day or night.

"We are very much looking forward to feeding York's shift workers in the small hours, and anticipate the new opening hours will take effect from the beginning of next week."

The two residents who objected had voiced concerns about increased disruption in the area.

But the chairman of the licensing hearing, Coun Martin Bartlett, said no evidence had been presented showing Subway had caused problems in the past.

He said: "The presumption in the Licensing Act is that you grant the licence, and you have to have good, sound reasons for not granting it."

He said Subway appeared to be very well run, and there were no grounds for rejecting their application.

The sandwich store, one of four Subways in York, is just yards from The Gallery nightclub.

But staff said they were hoping to attract emergency service workers, rather than late night revellers.

Subway regional development agent Josh Thompson told The Press: "We have identified a gap for 24-hour opening in the area.

"We anticipate that our offering of fresh, made-to-order sandwiches would be particularly popular with late night workers in the community, including hospital workers, police and firefighters."

One of the objectors, a King's Staith resident, had written: "One of the effects of the new licensing regime is to have extended the period of disturbance longer into the small hours, and I fail to see why this application, if granted, would not continue this trend.

"Please, please give the residents some peace and reject this application."

The resident said a 24-hour takeaway would lead to more noise, disturbance and litter, and as the only such outlet in the city, it would draw more people.


Takeaway told it can keep serving until 4am

A TAKEAWAY in the heart of York's late-night scene has been given permission to stay open until 4am.

Salt and Pepper in Tanner Row was given the go-ahead by councillors to extend its hours.

The outlet is currently open until 3.30am each day.

But will now open until 4am from Mondays to Saturdays, and 3am on Sundays.

Like Subway, it must join the Pubwatch scheme.

It will also employ door staff on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, race days, and on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve.

A consultation exercise by City of York Council drew only one response, from a Tanner Row resident. He wrote: "The area outside the premises is a hotspot' for fighting and rowdy, drunken behaviour, and the noise from this impacts on the local residents."

But the licensing hearing chairman, Coun Martin Bartlett, said there was no evidence that the premises were a source of trouble, and other premises nearby already opened until 4am.