Crowthorne Bar Wins Extended Opening Hours!

The owners of a cocktail bar and restaurant in Crowthorne have found out whether they can keep it open later.

The owners of The Vault 327 cocktail bar and restaurant in Crowthorne have received approval to extend their opening hours.

Open since May 2023, The Vault 327 took over from Triple BBBs Smokehouse. Initially, they could serve alcohol from 12pm to 10.45pm daily.

They sought to extend these hours to 11pm from Sunday to Thursday, midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, and 1am on New Year’s, with alcohol sales ending 15 minutes before closing time.

However, the licensing application faced objections from three locals and Crowthorne Parish Council, voicing worries over potential noise disturbances and suggesting the bar aimed to become a nightclub.

At the licensing panel meeting, Louis Stelling, representing The Vault 327, reassured the panel that they do not intend to operate as a club. “We don’t want to give a nightclub vibe. The premises are food-led,” he explained.

To quell noise complaints, the venue has hired a doorman from 10pm to manage guest departures and installed noise limiters. Stelling stated they are committed to ensuring the venue does not attract complaints.

Despite two noise complaints, one from as late as November 8, Stelling insisted the bar had no customers inside after 11pm. After deliberation, the panel approved the extended hours on November 24, with the decision made by councillors Nick Allen, Moira Gaw, and Cath Thompson.

James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter