Jinkys Pub, Oakham, Rutland, Planning Application

Jinkys Pub, Oakham, Rutland, Planning Application.

Last weeks planning meeting held in Rutland County Councils Chamber had to be extended twice and eventually it was adjourned and reconvened and held at Barley Thorpe Conference Centre in the Rutland Room.

The Chair gave out the time and location and the public quickly departed at this point a number of councillors said they could not make the meeting the chair had to plead with members for them to give some time, because she could not now change the date or time. Councillors agreed to give some time.

The next morning I attended the meeting and Councillors approved Mr Woods application to convert the former shop in Melton Road into Jinkys Pub, with a condition he builds a wall at the rear of the garden within one month and dealt with sound proof issues. Mr Woods said he will appeal the decision.

Mr Woods says he feels harassed by Rutland County Council and named a neighbour who he feels has assisted with this harassment.  He also told me he is currently seeking legal advice relating to a comment made by a Rutland County Councillor and published in a issue of the Rutland Times.

Mr Woods is currently offering the public a large window in the town centre for members of the public who wish to use it to display letters or posters highlighting there own personal dissatisfaction with Rutland County Council. (I declined his kind offer, I felt I needed to leave some space for all the others)
 
At the same meeting Councillors turned down  awful plans to build 11 so called eco houses and 11 garages in the middle of what I believe is the old walled kitchen garden of Barleythorpe Hall, Councillors have asked officers to act quickly to preserve the ancient Yew trees.

The council had previously approved a application for 6 homes. the new plans to me looked like a tin of sardines. One Councillor pointed out can you imagine the visual impact of at least 32 wheelie bins?

At this point most councillor departed Cllr Reese was asked if he could stop otherwise there would not be a quorum.

Jinky’s Oakham Happy Birthday Mr Woods

Jinky’s Oakham Happy Birthday Mr Woods

 

This evening I visited the local bar known as Jinky’s, The bar was very busy, lively and filled with music I enjoy.

The customers are mainly young and welcoming. Although I felt a little bit old!  Amongst such a youthful crowd.

resident DJ

I met the owners Mrs Woods who has lived in Oakham for 27 years. Mr Woods was celebrating his birthday. He is a very pleasant Scottish man, quite a lot of my good friends are Scottish.

Mr Woods enquired about the rainbow badge I was wearing. I told him it was a gay flag, he then went on to say he had quite a few gay customers and it was not an issue at Jinky’s
 

 

The whole evening was very enjoyable and I notice how the Woods family are respected by all their customers. It reminded me of a good old fashioned British pub with loud music.

Jinky's Oakham Oakham Town Council Planning

Oakham Town Councils planning and general purposes committee met last night

Apologies for absence were accepted from Cllr Gray, Cllr Woodcock and as per usual Cllr Swiffin

A number of members declared interests.

Cllr Lucas chairing the meeting and brought her usual confusion to the meeting ny declaring she was not sure members were approving the correct minutes. The clerk attempted to assist her. She said she had not seen the minutes and he replied you will when you sign them.

At public deputations I spoke about Jinkys application.  I explained to members how I was attacked by people claiming to be customers via e-mail and comments for posting on my blog photographs of the establishment and suggesting it was not my type of bar. I then told members the owner Mr Woods was much more courteous, was money was the issue when it came to improving the outside of the pub. I asked members to consider Jinky’s not just as a pub but a families source of income. I also mentioned some people turn out of an evening and consume their own drink on door steps before visiting the bars and clubs and a resident told me they felt no one was listening or believing them.

I know the feeling I observed Cllr Alf Dewis and his manner towards me whilst I was speaking this man is so rude.

It became clear later in the meeting the biggest issue was the appearance of the pub and past noise from music and people leaving via the back door.

The clerk explained the history,  suggesting other licence holders in the town were unhappy with how easily Jinky’s obtained a premises licence, he put the blame 50/50 at the door of Mr Woods and Rutland County Council.

It was clear he and members did not understand what a premises licence was or what the new classification of A4 included.

The Clerk went on to say the police had never been called to an incident at Jinky’s

Cllr Mathew Taylor could see no issue with a pub in this part of town although he expressed concerns regarding past noise levels disturbing nearby residents.

Cllr Maureen Dodds who is one of the ward Councillors was concerned if A4 status was granted Mr Woods would serve food, it was explained to her he already serves food. She said Jinky’s interferes with the lives of residents mainly due to the noise from music and the garden.

Cllr Joyce Lucas said the police created a problem, they stand outside the pub at the front and customers appear to leave via the wall at the back to avoid the police. She added things such as noise had improved.

The application from Mr Woods APP/2010/1060/NT change of use from A1 (retail) to A4 (Drinking establishment) 14-16 Melton Road   was approved by the town council subject to condition that I am sure Rutland County Council will want to be seen to be carried out.

It was suggested RCC used listed building enforcement to get the outside improved.

Jinky's Pub Oakham Melton Road Oakham Rutland

Back in May 2008 John Woods  a local businessman applied for a licence to open a new pub in the west end of Oakham.

John Woods  applied to the Licensing Authority at Rutland County Council to convert the buildings at 14-16 Melton Road into a bar and restaurant called Jinky's.

His application included proposals to show films indoors, provide live and recorded music, facilities for making music and dancing or anything similar and the provision of late night refreshments. He also wanted permission to sell alcohol for consumption on and off the premises.

Oakham residents have often highlighted the west end of the town as a priority for improvements, but a county councillor feared the plans could hamper future projects.


Rutland County Council said: "The snag with these plans is that we are looking at major regeneration of the area over the next five years so the development of new businesses might not be the best thing at the moment.
"To do something major in that area will be a big job, not a quick solution where a cosmetic change will do, and if new businesses are there it will be hard to come up with a regeneration scheme."

Put simple the Council did not want a pub, Mr  Woods was having none of this and opened his pub.

Rutland County Council noticed a pub had opened and a lot of people were enjoying the service Mr Woods provided. Some Councillor were not happy it was not posh, the Town Councillor also noticed and wanted the place closed.

Understandable people living nearby were unhappy because the pub was open very late and drunk customers can be very noisy.

So in  March 2009 Jinky's was told bed early, and closed its doors at midnight.

Now Jinky's is back in the news Rutland County Council want to close it down.

Where will the customers go? maybe they can all visit the posh Italian in Gaol Street. I know its posh because a former town councillor told other councillors at a planning meeting it was ok to extend hours because the owner used to work for Rutland County Council and I know her so it will be ok. That was back in the days when Oakham town Councillors forgot to declare interests.

I don't use Jinky's, I fear if I was to venture in I may want to leave very quickly. The thought of it reminds me of when I first ventured into a gay bar at the age of 18 in London called the Colherne by mistake, very scary all those big men in leather uniforms, I had chosen the wrong place and quickly ran out. I am not saying Jinky's is a gay bar, no the opposite very macho bar, for scary football supporters and soldiers. What I am trying to say is everyone is different and needs different places to drink. I can't see any of these customers wanting a quiet drink in the Whipper Inn. Although the last time a friend took me there it was almost empty accept for two old rutlanders, the man started moaning 'we put up with the two gay guys, because they knew how to run a bar, these new Indian owners have ruined the place of course were not homophobic or racist.' His wife sat in an embarrassed silence. I do love the older Rutlanders attitudes. So maybe the Whipper Inn would welcome the custom. £6 a glass of wine I guess is not the same as a £1 a pint

Anyway back to Jinky's

Jinky's provides a service to a large group of locals I am guessing some of them are builders if they want to keep the bar why don't they help improve the look. Mr Woods is not very good at DIY. I feel certain if the outside looked better some people would be happy.

 The bar always welcomes home troops by displaying posters in the window.

I am not sure if it is true, I am told one poster counting down the days, was to welcome a ex offender home from prison.

Mr Woods has attempted to improve things by entering into the spirit of Oakham in Bloom.

Jinky's has multi coloured windows reminded me of Pinchbeck Nursery School.

you will notice they are all real wood they can not be replaced with UPVC as this building is listed and in a conservation area. Meaning planning will only recommend its demolition if Tesco wanted to build a petrol station.

Jinky's Oakham in Bloom Support

I wonder why Mr Woods locks his customers in

well he must do! The only way they seem to 

be able to leave is by kicking down the wall and fence 

at the rear of the pub. 

Once again you can see from the photographs below

Mr Woods has improved the pub by planting the garden

I understand Darts are now being played 

A Oakham Team would be good

now darts is become more popular once more

 

Jinky's is not just a blokes bar ladies are welcome

I saw one dragging her fella out and pulling his trousers 

down in the street. Just could not

wait to get her fit man home lol.

It must also be hard to please the Council when you have a conservation officer 

who wants to preserve a unused loo at the rear of these premises

but has no issue with Tesco wanting to demolition a dwelling in a 

conservation area and tarmac for extra parking.

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