Tesco faces opposition to store on Otley Run route

Tesco is facing opposition to plans to sell alcohol from a new store on the route of one of the country's biggest pub crawls.

The supermaket giant has applied to Leeds City Council for a premises license for a vacant shop in Headingley, on the route of the Otley Run.

The famous pub crawl, along Otley Road and into Leeds, draws thousands of drinkers to the community at weekends.

Tesco first applied to sell drinks from 06:00 to midnight but reduced the hours to 07:00 to 11:00 as part of an agreement with the police.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the council received objections from 31 people living nearby, along with Green Party councillor Tim Goodall.

Objectors raised concerns over drunken behaviour on the pub crawl.

One wrote: "To allow another outlet for the supply of alcohol would be a disaster, compounding the already well documented issues around the Otley Run and alcohol abuse in Headingley."

A licensing sub-committee will consider Tesco's application at a hearing at Leeds Civic Hall on 3 March.

In its licence application Tesco said measures would be in place to avoid causing public nuisance.

It said: "The company has a good neighbour ethos which seeks to ensure that the premises plays an active part in the local community."

The proposed new Tesco is in a Cumulative Impact Area (CIA), classed as suffering from high levels of alcohol-related harm by the council.

In December 2024, bar and restaurant firm Loungers UK was refused a premises licence for the same site.

Last year, shopkeeper Khabat Ahmad was not granted a licence for Otley Road Convenience Store in Headingley, despite offering to restrict sales at weekends.

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