Kebab Van and Luxury Hotel in Bath Face Off Over Late-Night Opening Hours

A long-running dispute in Bath continues as Jimmy’s Kebab van seeks to extend its late-night opening hours, facing opposition from the nearby upscale Abbey Hotel. The kebab van, located on Terrace Walk-commonly referred to as Bog Island by locals-has applied to stay open until 3.40am instead of the current closing time of 3am. This extension aims to better serve customers leaving the popular Labyrinth nightclub, who currently miss out due to the earlier closing time.

The Abbey Hotel, situated directly opposite the van, argues that this extension would disturb its guests. Solicitors representing the hotel claim that noise from the kebab van has previously forced them to offer refunds or room changes to affected visitors. They cautioned that allowing later trading could worsen noise issues in an area already sensitive to late-night disturbances.

“The proposed extension of trading hours would intensify an already problematic operation in a location that is highly sensitive to late-night noise and disturbance.”

Local business owner Syed Jaffery, who manages properties on North Parade and Pierrepont Street, also voiced concerns. He emphasised that tenants and visitors expect a peaceful and safe environment, which could be compromised by extended vendor activity, including queuing, conversations, and vehicle noise during the early hours.

Despite these objections, Jimmy’s Kebab remains a beloved late-night option in Bath, boasting thousands of social media followers and a high 4.5-star rating on Google. One recent review praised it as a “classic staple at the heart of Bath,” even recommending it over the city’s famed Roman Baths as a place to visit.

This will mark the third time Bath and North East Somerset Council’s licensing committee considers Jimmy’s Kebab’s request to extend operating hours. The upcoming hearing is scheduled for 10am on Thursday, 30 July at Bath Guildhall, where the council will decide whether to grant the extension.