The owner of a failed burlesque bar has been criticised for saying he will break a town centre drink pricing rule to attract hard-up students to his venue.

 

 

TJ Bhamra, of Regents bar and nightclub, Regent Street, says he has been in talks with the University Campus Barnsley to make the premises a student union bar.

 

He is selling shots for £1 in breach of a code agreed by town centre publicans three years ago to stop booze-related problems and binge drinking. Under the scheme alcoholic drinks were set at a minimum of £1.30 and nothing greater than two-for-one drinks promotions could be in place.

 

But TJ, 41, says students cannot afford that and said the licensing agreement was not a legal obligation so he was not adhering to it at Regents.

"Yes I'm being naughty selling shots at £1 but I'm not breaking the law," he said.