Police have objected to plans for a street food market and “tap room” to serve drinks although some neighbours have given their support.
Beak Brewery, in Lewes, wants to set up a fully seated venue at the former car-hire site at 47 Trafalgar Street, Brighton.
The site is owned by retired company director Patricia Camping who lodged an unsuccessful planning application for offices and shops that drew almost 1,300 objections.
Beak Brewery founder Daniel Tapper, 39, has the backing of the site’s immediate neighbour, the Prince Albert pub, as well as other nearby businesses. He also received a positive reaction from the North Laine Community Association.
But Sussex Police have objected to proposals to sell alcohol from 9am to 11pm daily – on and off the premises.
The objection from the police and from Brighton and Hove City Council’s licensing team and three residents mean that the application will need to be decided by a council licensing panel.
A panel, made up three councillors, is due to consider the application next week – on Thursday 4 March.
The premises is in Trafalgar Street which is in a busy part of Brighton where the council has stricter licensing rules because of the “saturation” of drinks-led businesses in the area.
Acting Inspector Mark Redbourn, for Sussex Police, said that the operation was a “new pub” hosting more than 200 customers.
He said: “The night-time economy within Brighton and Hove can at times be challenging for all the emergency services.
“Within Brighton and Hove we are unique in that we have a high number of licensed venues all of which are in very close proximity to each other and is inclusive of licensed premises around the train station.”
Police said that they dealt with 146 violent crimes, 210 thefts and 54 public order offences within a mile of the venue over the year to Friday 8 March.
A resident who objected to the application, whose details were redacted by the council, said that they had seen the area change in the 35 years that they had lived in the North Laine.
The anonymous objector said: “The exchange of drugs, incidents of violent behaviour and late-night noise are now commonplace and, as a consequence, residents are leaving the area, often with their houses then becoming short-term lets.
“The link between the number of licensed premises and the level of crime in an area is well established, yet licences continue to be granted to premises in North Laine which now has 90 licensed premises, three times the number it had in 2005.”
The North Laine Community Association said that it was “cautiously welcoming” the proposals after Mr Tapper spoke with residents – but it asked for soundproofing and no live music events.
Fare play as it basically is the street food Market that was in bright helm centre but indoors.
It’s not the best venue tbh going to be freezing in the winter but the area definitely needs something like this. Seated drinking is so lame but Brighton police have destroyed the night life in the city so not unexpected
The German part of me enjoys a good beer hall. Antisocial behaviour and people who take their drink way too far damage the nightlife more than anything. Police are just cleaning up the mess. God that part of their job must be so draining…
Eh…I think they have to object on principle.
7 days a week until 10pm is probably too much for residents whose homes back on to it and close by. Should close 6pm on a Sunday & be shut Monday and Tuesday.
Off license sales is probably unnecessary as well unless it’s takeaway delivered with food.
Other than that a food market is a nice idea and will bring more jobs and new businesses to the area.