THE family of a man who died after he sustained serious injuries outside a Bingley nightclub say they are “devastated” that a new bar will be allowed to open in the same spot.

But the late night venue will have to shut two hours earlier than the owners originally intended.

A licence for Delilah’s Gin and Cocktail Bar, Chapel Lane, was granted by Bradford Council on Thursday, despite a huge amount of opposition.

The bar will be based in the premises formerly known as Bijou.

On November 25 last year James Etherington, 24, sustained serious injuries outside Bijou. He was taken to hospital with head injuries but died 10 days later. Wednesday will mark the first anniversary of his death.

Bijou was shut after the police suspended its licence.

Last month Bradford Council received a licensing application for alcohol, regulated entertainment and late night refreshment at the venue, which will now be called Delilah’s and be run by a company called SH Bars Ltd.

The application was discussed by the Bradford District Licensing Panel on Thursday, when members were told they had to stick to licensing law when making their decision, rather than the strong feeling the application had stirred up.

There had been numerous objections to the plan, including from Mr Etherington’s family, local councillors and residents of Bingley.

Many raised his death in their objections, and others said the bar would cause ant- social behaviour and disruption to those living near the business.

The company was represented in the meeting by Sarah Clover, who is described on her website as “The top licensing barrister outside London without doubt.”

She said: “I fully acknowledge this is a sensitive situation, and everyone in this room is aware of the tragic events of last November, which in no way should be dismissed. But this is in this legal proceeding you must make a determination based on licensing objectives. A number of the objections are not made on that perspective.”

Many objectors had criticised the involvement of Rory Proctor in the application. Mr Proctor was the former licence holder for Bijou and was, until earlier this month, listed as a director of SH Bars.

Mrs Clover said: “There has never been any attempt to hide the fact that Mr Proctor has played a part in this application. After the Bijou licence was taken Mr Proctor lost his livelihood. He was unable to keep trading but was tied into a long lease. He had to join forces with other people to start this new business. He has decided to take a step away from the business.”

She said the panel was not an appropriate place for Mr Proctor to be “put on trial.”

She said Matthew Brear will instead be running Delilah’s, adding: “This premises is ready for a new beginning.”

Originally the licence called for the bar to open until 4am on Fridays and Saturdays. Police suggested this be changed to 3am, and at the meeting the company said they were willing to shut at 2am.

Councillor David Heseltine (Con, Bingley) said: “The fact that directors are coming and going doesn’t give me much faith in this company at all. They say this is a gin bar, but it is a thinly disguised nightclub.

“Since Bijou has closed people have told me the number of incidents of late night disturbance, damage, and anti-social behaviour has reduced. Bingley doesn’t want this late night venue.”

Bingley Town Councillor Joe Wheatley said: “The community don’t view this as an appropriate premises. This application shows a total disregard for the community.”

After a deliberation, the panel voted to grant the licence, with the condition that the bar close at 11.30pm on Sunday to Wednesday and 2pm on Thursdays to Saturdays.

After the decision, relatives of Mr Etherington spoke of their disappointment that the venue will once again become a late night bar.

Denise Kedward, Mr Etherington’s aunt, said: “This is not the outcome we wanted. Bingley won’t be happy. All the family and extended family live in Bingley, and we’ll have to go past this business and see the place he died all the time. We just wanted it to be something else. I’ll be reminded every time I go around my own town. A lot of what was said in there was hard to listen to.”

Ann Laycock, another aunt of Mr Etherington, said: “We’re devastated. The feelings of the people have not been considered. I don’t know why they just didn’t take their business somewhere else.”

Liah Short, a friend of Mr Etherington, said: “Our lives were changed so much by what happened, and now a bar will be trading there like nothing ever happened.”

A man will face trial over Mr Etherington’s death in July.