Councillors have united in opposition to plans for late-night opening at a takeaway in Coseley, despite its location next to a 24-hour McDonald's. The operators of Burger Boi on Birmingham New Road have applied to Dudley Council for permission to sell food into the early hours, but all three ward councillors have raised concerns about the potential impact on residents.
The application, which will be considered by the council's Licensing Sub-Committee on August 18, seeks to allow the premises to open until 2am on Friday and Saturday nights and until midnight on Sunday to Thursday. In their submission, Gastro Logistics Ltd, the company behind Burger Boi, argue that there is a demand for late-night food service in the local community.
The company stated: "The property is a takeaway restaurant opened in early 2025 next door to a Subway restaurant – also next to a 24-hour McDonald's restaurant with drive through. The licence is to allow for late night food service, we see a demand for it in the local community. There will be no antisocial activity as we will not be serving any alcohol as we serve halal meat."
Councillors cite existing problems
Despite these assurances, all three ward councillors have expressed reservations. Cllr Peter Drake highlighted the residential nature of the area, saying: "This is not a retail area or a spot of nightlife, it is mixed-used at best in the middle of a residential area. Late night hours at Burger Boi would encourage this and establish this section of the Birmingham New Road as a large-scale hangout for all sorts of troublemakers."
He also pointed to recent incidents in the vicinity: "There has been ASB in the area recently including break-ins and vandalism at a nearby empty house on Ivyhouse Lane. I fear that this would continue or worsen, and pose a heightened risk."
Cllr Sat Sherwani echoed these concerns, focusing on the potential for noise disturbance. He said: "I am concerned that customers arriving and leaving the premises late at night, vehicle movements, engines idling, conversations outside the premises and car doors closing could result in noise and disturbance that would adversely affect nearby residents, particularly during the early hours of the morning."
Residents already affected by McDonald's
Cllr Sue Ridney noted that residents have already been troubled by the nearby McDonald's 24-hour operation. She said: "We have and have continued to receive complaints of noise and disturbance from residents since the 24-hour opening of MacDonalds. I would not wish to add to that by granting the opening to 2am to these premises."
Gastro Logistics Ltd has stated that they have extensive CCTV coverage at Burger Boi, the number of customers in the shop is limited to ten, and no drugs or alcohol are permitted on the site. The licensing sub-committee will decide on the application at their meeting on August 18, with the outcome potentially impacting the local area's late-night landscape.
