Anger as Worthing music bar landlord submits restaurant plan

Worthing resident Mark Knowles runs Bar 42 on the town’s seafront. He said he has only enough cash to pay staff for two weeks and then rent for nine months.

But now the venue faces a second threat to its future as landlord Inspirational Consulting has applied to Worthing Borough Council to convert the building into a restaurant.

Mr Knowles, 46, said he only found out about the plans when the bar’s assistant manager received a letter through her door from the council.

“It seems the landlord just wants us to go,” he said.

“We pay our rent on time so all I can imagine is he doesn’t like the bar or the people in it.

“We’re people with long hair who like loud music."

More than 130 people have objected to the plans on the borough council website.

Mr Knowles said losing the bar would leave a hole in Worthing’s music scene.

Worthing band Aren Drift play at Bar 42, a venue now under threat as the landlord has submitted plans to convert it into a restaurant. Photo: Adrian Pollard

“I set it up in 2011 because Worthing didn’t have an alternative bar," he said.

“Not necessarily for metal, even just indie music and rock.

“I’m 46 now, but back when I was 21 the bars were playing Blur and Oasis. I set the bar up to be like that.

“We started doing gigs after that and then we refurbished the stage. People see the real value of Bar 42 now.

“We do college gigs for the students. Where will they go if we go?

“Worthing doesn’t need another restaurant.

“Restaurants and pubs aren’t going to come flying out of this. It’s going to be a reduced industry.”

Mr Knowles said Worthing does not need another restaurant as the town's hospitality industry will take time to recover

Music Venues Trust chief executive Mark Davyd has written to the borough council encouraging it to reject the application as it goes against the town plan and Government guidelines.

“The replacement of a music venue with another restaurant clearly reduces the cultural offering in the area and is therefore contrary to both existing and emerging policy,” he wrote.

“Bar 42 is located within an area where the council and others are promoting the seafront investment plan designed to encourage visits, particularly to this part of the seafront.

“As a cultural venue, Bar 42 can play an important role in this regard.”

The Argus attempted to contact Inspirational Consulting through planning agent Deadspace Designs but received no response.

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