As mentioned by others that the police are rarely successful in preventing establishments gaining licenses outright. You only have to look at the licenses given out to businesses north of Macdonald`s in very recent years: Butlers Bell, Redrum, No7, The Doghouse, Slaters and Hogarths. This will only expand as will conditions, this is because demand will control licenses not the police.
Secondly, in reference regarding the dog house and Martin Street residences, there is really no issue.
1. Is anyone actually living in Martin Street ? 2. Drinking / music establishments have co-existed in towns and cities or an eternity.
2. One only has to go to any major city to see the extent of living, leisure, tourism, restaurants, late night premises all thriving along side enormous scales of city centre living. So why shouldn't this happen in town centres, albeit on a far smaller scale ?
Town centre living is a must in todays environment and is something required for them to continue existing. Centres, planners and locals need to look forward and not be in the dark ages hoping retail will find its mojo again.