George Town’s Senor Frog’s has been refused opening until 3am for the second time by the Liquor Licensing Board.
It has, however, been granted permission to remain open Friday nights until 2am.
Mr. Stefan Baraud, Senor Frog’s, Fort Street had applied to the board for permission to operate until 3am Monday to Friday. The request was heard at the board’s annual session at Custom’s headquarters.
A previous application by Senor Frog’s to open until 3am had been rejected by the Liquor Licensing Board.
Representing Senor Frog’s, Mr. Anthony Akiwumi said that as a franchise, it has a certain uniformity with other franchises in Mexico and the Caribbean, with others opening until 3am in their respective countries.
Those hours of operation would be unlikely to cause complaints from the district of George Town as it is primarily a business district, he said.
Senor Frog’s has been in business since July. It has a door policy and a dress code and has received no complaints since its opening, he said.
He confirmed that the establishment does not allow children after 10pm and this is strictly enforced. After this time there is live music on a stage and the restaurant area is cordoned off from the dance area.
Following questioning from board member Ruth Williams, Mr. Akiwumi said that the additional two hours being sought would go towards people availing of music and alcohol. Liquor would be served until 2am and there would be soft music from 2.30am to 2.45am, after which people would leave. Mr. Akiwumi confirmed that it would be like a nightclub, but with more supervision.
‘It relies heavily on live music and it doesn’t make good business practice to have such curtailed hours,’ he said.
Mr. Baraud said downtown George Town is lacking the type of entertainment found on Seven Mile Beach and it would be practical to have proper, supervised entertainment in an area where there is no congestion or people living.
‘This is not a typical restaurant,’ he said, ‘We’ve invested heavily in entertainment and are showcasing local talent.’
He confirmed that the restaurant opens at 10 or 11am depending on the cruise ship market.
Board member Ruth Williams asked Mr. Baraud if he realised that nightclubs do not have business during the day and this is why they operate at night.
Mr. Akiwumi answered that Senor Frog’s is a different concept, although the hours are the same as a nightclub. It caters to two separate markets. In the morning and early afternoon there is the cruise ship market, after which there is a lull before dinner, and after 10pm it becomes an entertainment centre.
Mr. Akiwumi also confirmed that the police had agreed to relax parking restrictions in the area at night.
Board Chairman Mitchell Welds pointed out that the hours of operation being sought are not the norm for restaurants/bars. ‘Would you consider your facility a restaurant or nightclub?’ he asked.
‘It’s a hybrid centre for entertainment,’ answered Mr. Akiwumi. ‘It’s for all the family; it caters for all ages but at different times of the day,’ he said.
He suggested that if the board is concerned it could consider extending the hours from Wednesday to Friday.
Board member Craig Nixon asked if Senor Frogs mandates its franchises to open until 3am.
Mr. Akiwumi said it is part of the business plan and is typical of franchises, but it is understood that the decision in Grand Cayman is at the discretion of the Liquor Licensing Board.
Related Videos
