The man behind a popular Brentwood restaurant has revealed plans for an upmarket Greek restaurant with singers and dancers.

Burak Erceri, who owns the Fat Turk in Warley has been given permission to open Yiamas – a Greek restaurant and cabaret in Pilgrims Hatch where Dusk once operated before its closure more than a year ago.

However, his request to open until 2am on Friday and Saturdays has been rejected after Brentwood Council’s licensing committee heard concerns from residents about potential disturbance from customers heading back to their cars.

Yiamas had wanted to open between midday and midnight Sunday-Thursday and midday to 2am Friday and Saturday.

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But after a meeting of the council’s licensing committee it was decided that the serving of alcohol will have to stop at 11.30pm with closure at 12am between Thursday and Sunday. On Friday and Saturday alcohol can be served until 12am with closure at 12.30am.

Echo: A sign for the former Dusk restaurant A sign for the former Dusk restaurant (Image: Google Street View)

Brian Billington, who lives in nearby Frog Street, said: “We put up with a terrible time with Dusk – we had so many meetings down there to try to get them to reduce the noise when they left. It is so quiet in that area that just people shouting out goodbye people can hear it down the road .”

He added: “It doesn’t seem fair on the neighbours to be giving people until 2am on Friday and Saturday. That is unreasonable.”

Councillor Vicky Davies, who represents the area on Brentwood Borough Council, said: “I know a business deserves to thrive and deserves to be successful, but it can’t be at the cost of the health and well-being of the local residents and I think it’s a human right they can put their kids to bed at night on the safe assumption that at 2am there won’t be noise in the car park on a regular basis.”

Mr Ercari who opened the Fat Turk in Ongar and then its sister in Brentwood on the site at the Horse and Groom Warley in 2014 said he has invested significant sums into the new venture and would not risk that by falling foul of Brentwood Council over noise concerns.

He said: “People want to go and dine and be entertained – that is what the rear part of the restaurant offers as well. There will be someone spinning from the ceiling – they don’t make any noise they do that to music – there may be someone who does stuff with fire. It’s all about entertainment.

“I’ve got some great singers. I’m not owed anything but I think I’m owed a little bit of trust.”