Mela Eatery, a restaurant on the ground floor of 11 The Octagon, has been granted an on-licence by Dunedin’s district licensing committee after a pair of hearings earlier this year.
The licence took effect yesterday and the restaurant is able to sell alcohol seven days a week, from noon to 9pm.
In its decision, committee secretary Kevin Mechen said there had been "initial concern" about the involvement in the running of the business of some people who had history in relation to the former business operating at the same location.
What was then Eleven Bar & Club was ordered to close "effective immediately" by the committee in July last year, after witnesses came forward with reports ranging from breaches of Covid-19 guidelines and alcohol licensing laws to incidents of teenage girls being locked in rooms with older men.
Mr Mechen said the committee was told that these people were "not involved in any way" with Mela Eatery, and this was not challenged during the hearing.
At a reconvened hearing in August, the committee heard Susmita Khattri — the 21-year-old daughter of the restaurant’s owner, who intended to work there as a duty manager — had obtained experience in an inner city bar, after the committee requested she gain experience managing at a busier location.
Police, the medical officer of health and licensing inspector all withdrew their opposition to the application, the decision said.
