A RURAL cafe’s bid to serve refined food and wine later into the evening was hampered by complaints over ukulele gigs and disturbing nesting barn owls.

In what has been described as possibly ‘the most Wirral thing that ever happened’, the White Owl cafe/restaurant in Thurstaston was stopped in its tracks when making an application to extend its opening hours recently.

The venue is on Station Road, has picturesque views out over the Dee Estuary towards Wales, and holds weekly acoustic sessions, often featuring ukulele performances.

On Thursday, Wirral Council’s licensing act sub-committee approved its application to open between 9am and 9pm Sunday to Tuesday, and 9am to 10.30pm every other day.

It will mean alcohol sales allowed from 11am until 30 minutes before closing time.

The plans were not without objection, however, and the committee heard the licensing department had received a complaint about a ukulele band practising there last year.

Complaints were lodged by both a local resident and the Irby, Thurstaston and Pensby Amenity Society.

Venue owner Geb White told the meeting the complaint related to an occasion when the venue had allowed a ukulele band to practice there. No alcohol was actually served on the day in question – just “tea and biscuits”, he said.

Mr White said that with the licensing permission, he hoped to hold open-mic nights once a month, and weekly acoustic sessions – including performances from ukulele bands.

He said noise levels would not be an issue, as the venue’s windows open out “towards the Dee estuary” – not towards the nearest homes.

He added that bands only use small amplifiers, with the West Wirral venue aiming for an “easy atmosphere” to accompany dining, that you “cannot hear further than the end of the car park”.

Mr White added: “There’s no hidden mysteries at all. If you want to come down on a Sunday afternoon you can, and get a taste of exactly what we are doing.”

He said regular acts appearing at the White Owl include country music duo Tennessee Waltz and a folk band called The Remnants.

He added: “That gives you an indication of the type of music we are playing and aiming at. We are never going to get AC/DC down.”

As well as noise concerns, fears were also raised about nuisance from customers leaving the venue.

Representing the owners at the meeting this week was lawyer Kevin Slack, who told the Wallasey Town Hall meeting the White Owl’s “prime focus” was to be an “eatery”.

He explained: “That will remain the focus even if the application is successful. The owners need the ability to sell alcohol to encourage customers to come.”

He also said the sale of alcohol accounted for a “very small proportion of turnover” – around 5%, adding: “There isn’t even a bar within the cafe. The alcohol provision consists of a fridge with glass doors and a small collection of bottles. Hopefully that gives some indication as to where the priorities of the business lie.

“It’s certainly not the intention behind the application to have this cafe focusing on alcohol sales.”

The complainants weren’t present to speak to their objections, but their grievances also related to “potential disturbance to sensitive wildlife”.

But the meeting heard that fears over the impact on nesting sites for barn owls had been eased before the venue gained planning permission over 18 months ago.

An expert ecologist visited the site before determining the development would “not cause any adverse impact on those owls”, Mr Slack said.

In terms of the fears over public nuisance, he added: “In so far as the committee has any concerns about patrons leaving the White Owl cafe and causing a potential disturbance, firstly one can see from the plan the rural location of the site, but also on behalf of the applicant, I can reassure the committee they take very seriously the risk of any disruption to residents. I am instructed signs have been placed in the window and outside reminding customers to leave quietly.”

The meeting also heard that CCTV had been installed and upgraded at the venue, and staff knew the importance of not serving alcohol to those under age.

Mr White told the meeting his cafe served a “seasonal, eclectic mix” of food, including smoked salmon, poached eggs, burgers, steaks and a list of specials.

He added: “We are not looking to put on drinks specials or anything, it’s about the food first and foremost.”

After an hour of deliberation, the committee approved the application subject to conditions, including that alcohol sales finish 30 minutes before closing.