IT’S the typical place for a quiet retreat, away from the hustle and bustle of the world outside.
And the boss of one city bookshop is bidding to keep it that way — by attempting to stand in the way of plans by a local nightclub to open its doors to kids and young folk.
The owners of Yuppies Bar and Nightclub on the Seagate have applied to Dundee City Council to allow children and youngsters to access the venue for the duration of private functions.
The bid will go before the licensing board this week.
But Robin Crawford, the manager of Waterstones, has written to the local authority to object to the plan.
He claims that during previous tenants’ time at the venue, the club has become a hotspot for noise and anti-social behaviour.
Mr Crawford says that affects customers in his bookshop and the cafe within his store.
In a letter to the council, he said that as the upstairs neighbour of the bar, he had concerns about noise levels affecting his business.
He said that previously, young folk were allowed to attend private functions at the club — mainly during the day — and on Saturdays and Sundays.
“I believe that the venue was offered free of charge, and that the bar made its profits from the sale of drinks,” his letter continued. “It’s not my place to offer an opinion on the right or wrong of mixing of children with adults in a bar but I do know from past experience how it affected my business.
“Former occupiers of the bar have held occasional daytime events — parties and live music — and the noise, vibrations from loud music, and anti-social behaviour at the back of the premises, where their customers are permitted to smoke and drink, have seriously affected not only the ability of my customers to browse the bookshop but also customers — predominantly elderly and young families — trying to enjoy a coffee.”
He added: “Naturally, I’m extremely cautious about the granting of this variation if it’s going to damage the ambiance that is essential to the successful running of my well-established and well-loved bookshop — the only commercial one left in Dundee city centre.”
Mr Crawford went on to say he had no objection to a variation of the licence outwith his shop’s hours of 9am to 6pm.
Yuppies was approached for comment but could not be reached at the time of going to press.