Beach bar and café waits on drinks licence verdict

A beach bar and café operator is waiting to hear whether he will be granted a drinks licence for his new premises on Hove seafront.

Jack Cregan, 39, of the Crafthouse Collective Ltd, told a council licensing panel that he and his company wanted the venue, Babble, to be somewhere that had the support of their neighbours.

The licensing panel hearing was held because objections were received from 11 people living in Fairlawns, a block of flats across the road, in Kingsway.

The premises licence, if granted, would allow Babble to sell alcohol, serve late-night refreshment and play live and recorded music at the new food and drink venue.

The bar and café is based in the recently completed outdoor sports hub at Hove Beach Park, the section of Hove seafront currently undergoing a £13 million revamp.

Brighton and Hove City Council licensing officer Emily Fountain said that, after discussions with the those behind the 11 objections, nine were withdrawn.

Of the two remaining objections, one appeared to be related to the planning permission for the building, rather than the licence application, the panel was told.

The objection came from a couple who complained that the building blocked their view and that they had been told that it would be made of glass – but it wasn’t.

The couple said: “We are already having trouble with people getting drunk and sleeping in our communal hallways.”

Another of the original objections said: “There is already another building nearby … which plays music late into the night.”

And another neighbour, citing safety and security concerns and worries about noise and light pollution, said: “On several occasions while sitting on my balcony during daylight hours and evenings, I have witnessed people crossing the lawn to urinate out of site in our hedges.

“I have challenged this but received nothing but abuse. It is unhygienic for me and other garden workers to have to work in other people’s toilet because they can’t be bothered to find a public facility.”

Mr Cregan said that he had tried to contact the other remaining objector, Francesca Granato, but had so far been unable to reach her.

He offered to be the point of contact for neighbours in the event of any noise, disturbance or anti-social behaviour linked to the premises.

The premises are expected to be open from 8am each day, closing at midnight on Friday and Saturday and 11pm every other night. Drink sales would start from 11am.

Mr Cregan told the licensing panel, made up of three councillors, that he lived in the area and said: “There are bars and restaurants that are open until much later.”