A COCKTAIL bar which is allowed to play music until 3am could lose its licence following a noise complaint from a neighbour.

Southend Council is set to hold a licensing review into Twelve Brunch & Cocktails, on Clifftown Road.

The manager of the venue has branded the move “unfair” and “heavy-handed” ahead of the hearing at a meeting of the licensing sub-committee next Friday.

Michael Landon said: “One resident complained about the music, and the council held a consultation period and nobody else lodged any complaints.

“The same person objected when we had our licence reviewed to allow us to play music until 3am last October.

“The resident has denied us access to carry out acoustic surveys. We feel it’s all very unfair, with one person in the community complaining who will not give us chance to fix it.

“To make it worse other neighbours are fine with it. We are denied access to check it out and solve it if needs be.”

The application for review was made by the Environmental Health Team and was received on January 30.

The grounds for the application is that the premises is undermining the licensing objective which is to prevent public nuisance.

Mr Landon added: “We are very frustrated about it and the basis of the review. There is no scientific proof and we are just being told it’s loud.

“We employ staff and support the nighttime economy which could all suffer if we lose our licence. It’s heavy-handed by the council.”

The business offers occasional events and private hire as well as a bottomless brunch option.

The licensing committee has a number of powers including modifying the licence, excluding a licensable activity, removing the designated premises supervisor, suspend the licence for a period not exceeding three months or revoking the licence.

A spokesman for Southend Council said: “The contents of the report will be discussed in full at the meeting. It would be inappropriate to comment before that meeting has taken place.”