The Mayfair bar in Bungay applies for full licence

The Mayfair in Bungay opened on a temporary licence on Friday, December 8, after a frantic week of 15-hour days transforming a former newsagent into an entertainment venue.

Owners Silas Rayner and his wife Daisy, who run the popular Maui Waui festival near Dereham, even created a Winter Wonderland and Santa's Grotto at the back of the premises for the festive period.

But two weeks to the day after they opened, on December 22, East Suffolk Council revoked the business's temporary licence after a series of noise complaints from residents along Broad Street.

The Mayfair, in Bungay. (Image: Denise Bradley)Speaking in the wake of the closure, Mr Rayner said it was "disappointing to close".

However, the business owner was always planning to close in January anyway to make a series of "structural tweaks" to the cafe/bar and apply for a full licence, which has now been submitted.

The licence application proposal has requested permission for the following:

-Opening Hours Monday to Sunday 10:00 to midnight

-Films (Indoors) Monday to Sunday 12:00 to midnight

-Live Music (Indoors) Monday to Sunday 12:00 to midnight

-Recorded Music (Indoors) Monday to Sunday 12:00 to midnight

-Performance of dance (Indoors) Monday to Sunday 12:00 to midnight

-Late night refreshments (Indoors) Monday to Sunday 23:00 to midnight

-Supply of alcohol (On and Off Premises) Monday to Sunday 10:00 to midnight

Silas Rayner in his Santa's Grotto at his new coffee cocktail bar and shop, The Mayfair, in Bungay, pictured in December 2023 (Image: Denise Bradley)

READ MORE: The Mayfair to close TWO WEEKS after it opened after neighbour noise complaints

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The closing date to make any representations to East Suffolk Council regarding the licence application is March 3, 2024.

People in the Bungay expressed sadness at the announcement that The Mayfair was ordered to close in December as many people welcomed the venue as "great for the town".

One Bungay resident said: "The Mayfair was something unique to Bungay and we are angry it had to close before many people even had the chance to enjoy it.

"With The Dragon just across the road, the Fisher Theatre there too and even The Tunns, The Mayfair adds great variety to other places to go for a drink, and as it is a vibrant and popular place, albeit for two weeks, which will help other businesses and get the town buzzing."