A coffee shop has been granted a drinks licence after the owner convinced a panel of councillors that the business would not add to crime and nuisance in the area.
It means that Fika will be able to serve alcohol from 9am to 9pm daily at its new premises, a former art gallery, in Victoria Grove, Second Avenue, Hove.
Company director Elliott Chandler-Gordon, 41, told the panel of three councillors – Julie Cattell, Paul Nann and Alison Thomson – that he wanted to solve hangovers, not serve them.
Some neighbours objected to the premises licence application by Fika so it was decided by a Brighton and Hove City Council licensing panel on Friday 22 November.
Mr Chandler-Gordon agreed draft licence conditions with Sussex Police before the panel hearing, requiring drinks to be served by waiting staff and only to customers who were seated at a table.
Fika already has a smaller coffee shop in Norton Road, Hove, which was described as a more relaxed space with sofas where people can use laptops and have time for themselves.
Mr Chandler-Gordon said that the Swedish term Fika meant to take time out, have coffee and meet friends.
A decision letter from the council said: “The panel considered that the applicant demonstrated a responsible and respectful attitude towards his neighbours and the prevention of public nuisance.
“He showed a willingness to respond to issues raised and to work to resolve them.
“The panel did not consider it was the style of operation which would add to problems in the area.”
I lived above this café during the transition of the flat from an art gallery, and for two weeks after it opened. The statement, “The panel considered that the applicant demonstrated a responsible and respectful attitude towards his neighbours and the prevention of public nuisance,” is nothing short of a joke.
We warned them early on about the poor sound insulation. When the art gallery held events, we could hear everything, even simple conversations between two people. We raised this with Fika at the beginning of their renovations, and they assured us that sound insulation would be installed.
Fast forward three months, we noticed an Instagram post announcing their opening. Concerned, I went downstairs to speak to the contractor, who had always been polite and tried to minimize noise during the works. The contractor then informed us that no sound insulation would be installed because the renovation costs had been too high.
We confronted Fika on opening day after being woken up at 6:30 AM by staff setting up. They claimed that sound insulation had been installed, pointing to acoustic paneling on one wall (the right-hand wall upon entering). This was far from sufficient.
Fika’s behavior has been anything but respectful to their neighbors. Their approach to opening the shop was naive and inconsiderate. I care for someone with severe M.E., who is bedbound, and the noise has severely impacted their health. We’ve now been forced to leave our home because of the intolerable sound levels.
Fika ignored early warnings, went ahead with their plans, and when confronted again about the unbearable impact on our lives, they shrugged it off, claiming nothing could be done since the shop was already open.
The council think that it is reasonable for residents to put up with more cafes/bars encroaching on residential roads. There is always unwanted noise and increased traffic, it appears to be getting worse around central Hove. Just the other side of Fika the Botanist coffee shop also has a licence. When will councillors listen to local impacted residents? This is not central Brighton or a big city, it is an area with families and elderly folks who don’t need more bars and coffee shops.