NEIGHBOURS living near a city centre sandwich shop have criticised a plan for the venue to start selling alcohol and play music after midnight.

The owners of Sangers Deli in Netherton Court off Infirmary Walk in Worcester have asked asks for permission to sell alcohol and play live and recorded music – both indoors and outdoors – every day from 10am until 00.30am.

But the move has been condemned by residents living in neighbouring Magdala Court who say they already facing trouble with the Arch Rivals Brewery and the late-night plans for Sangers Deli would “double the amount of noise.”

READ MORE: Move to build new homes off country lane near Worcester

“It’s just madness to even consider when there is, in such close proximity, families, couples, people who living in their properties will bear the brunt of this proposal,” one objection from a resident in Magdala Court said.

“It seems to me that Magdala Court residents are being completely forgotten in the development of the arches…”, it continued. “We expect a certain disruption and noise living in the city centre, but it is already over an acceptable level.”

Worcester City Council’s licensing subcommittee meets in the Guildhall on August 21 to decide whether the application should be granted.

The deli, which sells sandwiches and pizza, currently opens on Wednesday and Thursday evenings between 5pm and 9.30pm and opens as late as 10.30pm on Fridays and Saturdays.

The deli was set up by Worcester Warriors teammates Niall Annett and Ethan Waller in 2021 in one of the city’s historic railway arches but the pair have since left the city following the demise of the club.

READ MORE: 270-acre solar farm could be built between Worcester and Malvern

Joseph Murcott then became a new director in May last year with Annmarie Murcott joining in February.

Trevor Chalk, an environmental health officer at Worcestershire Regulatory Services, said extending the opening hours past 11pm would “very clearly cause unreasonable distress.”

 “We are already receiving numerous complaints from residents of the nearby flats, which are complaining about noise levels from the adjacent Arch Rival premise which is adjacent to Sangers and also in very close proximity to the residential properties,” he said.

One other resident in Magdala Court said they had been forced to leave their apartment on some evenings because of the disturbance.

“The noise is unbearable even with my windows closed,” the objection said. “[It is] not acceptable at any time and particularly on warm summer evenings when I am trying to relax after work.”

Cllr Lynn Denham, who represents the Cathedral ward which includes the city centre, said extended hours and planned activities until after midnight would be disruptive for many of the vulnerable people living in Magdala Court.

"This venue is in a residential area,” she said.

“There is no acknowledgement by the applicant of the significance of this and the need to be considerate of neighbours.”

Sangers Deli did not respond to our request for comment.