AMBITIOUS plans for an eatery, nightclub, boutique hotel, function venue and even a champagne delivery service have been given the thumbs-up by a licensing panel.

Award-winning Indian restaurant The 1875, formerly of Menston, was granted a 24-hour licence for its new premises in Bradford city centre today.

It will see the former Gasworks nightspot in Ivegate transformed into what entrepreneur Manjinder Sarai described as "Bradford’s only independent destination brand, venue and boutique hotel”.

But at the meeting of the Council's Bradford area licensing panel at City Hall, one neighbour raised concerns that music at all hours could disturb nearby residents.

Abdulrahman Mouchli, who owns nearby 28 Ivegate, said he wanted to create eight studio flats and a cafe in his premises, but feared the plans for the nightspot could jeopardise this plan.

He said: "They will have to live 20 metres away from a premises playing music 24-hours. My main concern is the noise the premises will produce."

But Mr Sarai said the building was well sound-insulated and he had agreed not to play amplified music from the rooftop terrace, in response to a request by the Council's Environmental Health team.

He said: "We will not be, even in the slightest, a 24-hour open-ended drinking inn for anybody off the street.

"We are a high-end brand with multiple awards behind us and we will not entertain a troublesome crowd knowingly."

He said he had plans to develop a boutique hotel in the venue over time, with about ten to 15 bedrooms, and said a 24-hour licence would be essential for this.

Panel member Councillor Anne Hawkesworth (Ind, Ilkley) asked whether this would be Bradford's first round-the-clock licence.

Licensing officer Melanie McGurk said many of the city centre hotels had 24-hour licenses, while some nightclubs held licenses until 7am or 8am.

The panel granted the licence, but added a condition that music could not be played at any time from the rooftop terrace.

Afterwards, Mr Sarai said he was "very, very pleased" with the decision, and thanked the Council and the police licensing team for their support.

He said the limit on music on the roof terrace wasn't too much of a problem.

Mr Mouchli said he saw it as a compromise.

He said: "I think this is a middle way. I don't want to stop the business. It is the noise, this is what is concerning me."