Neighbours have objected to a drinks licence application by a new pizza shop in a Brighton arcade.
Pommy’s Pizza, at 12 Imperial Arcade, in Western Road, Brighton, has applied to sell alcohol to customers at its premises from noon to 11pm.
The business is in the former Forfars shop, later re-branded Fresh.
In the application by Toblari Group Ltd, owned by Stefano Vittori, 36, and Riccardo Charsoni, 31, the business is described as a pizza shop, selling freshly made New York-style pizza by the slice or whole.
Pommy’s has space for five tables seating ten people inside and four tables outside for eight people.
The application said: “We intend to apply for an alcohol licence solely to offer a small selection of local and premium beers to complement our food offering.
“Alcohol will only be sold for consumption on the premises and there will be no dedicated area for off-sales consumption.
“The sale of alcohol is intended to enhance the customer dining experience and will be ancillary to the primary food business.”
Two neighbours objected so a panel of three members of Brighton and Hove City Council will be asked to decide the application at a hearing on Friday (25 July).
One anonymous objector said that they had lived in a flat above the arcade for 25 years and had enjoyed “peaceful evenings” when the site was locked.
The objector, whose whose details were redacted by the council, said: “I am already concerned about the change of use of the retail units occupying the other side of the arcade to food, apparently now permitted to open until late evening.
“However, I am particularly concerned about the application for a licence to sell alcohol by Pommy’s Pizza, at 12 Imperial Arcade.
“This is an established residential building with access through the shopping arcade.
“The addition of alcohol sales is a step too far, with added noise and behaviour issues. No doubt tables in the arcade and music playing.”
The other anonymous objector, whose details were also redacted, said: “There are residential properties upstairs and have been for decades.
“There will be extra noise created and disturbance. Alcohol has not been sold here before.”
Nether the council nor Sussex Police objected to the application. Council licensing policy currently permits licensed restaurants serving alcohol with food to operate up until midnight.
Sussex Police agreed draft conditions with the business which were published ahead of the hearing.
They include limiting alcohol sales to customers seated at tables eating a meal and served by waiting staff.
The licensing panel hearing is due to start at 10am on Friday (25 July). The meeting is scheduled to be webcast.
The arcade will become a no go area again with the type of commercial premises that are going in there.
The thought of encountering someone enjoying a beer with their pizza is terrifying.
Oh dear how dare this place apply for an alcohol licence to enjoy a beer with your pizza. First world problems! Get a grip. And dear with it
Brighton is being taken over by alcohol and places selling it. You’d think people at the council would look at places like Magaluf in Majorca and Ayia Napa in Cyprus , not to mention Blackpool, to see what the end result of not clamping down on alcohol and making it as freely available as chocolate can be.
There is no justification for pizza places to be serving booze and especially not in what is essentially the ground floor of a residential block.
I would contend that anyone who cannot buy a pizza or eat a pizza without alcohol has a drink problem, is probably an alcoholic and needs help. If people want a drink they can go to a pub. The decent majority are sick of the centre of the city being overrun by drunks.
How long will it be before Toy shops and places like Mothercare apply for drinks licences?
Every business wants to have a drinks licence?
My god!
The town I grew up in seems to be a alcoholics dream place to live now!
Very well said.
I’ve been joking for a while that it won’t be long before primary schools start applying for alcohol licences.
Of course, alcohol is the most harmful drug in Britain and our relationship with alcohol has become very unhealthy indeed. Alcohol is highly addictive and the number one cause of people being taken to hospital and A&E and the leading cause of domestic violence, anti-social behaviour and also now a well proven carcinogenic responsible for tens of thousands of preventable deaths a year.
It’s also been established that 38% of the very many people sleeping rough in Britain are on the streets because of their alcohol addiction.
Hairdressers with wine for the girlies and Barber shops with Whisky and Cigars, just another step or 2, after that swap out the school milk for Barley Wine then the idiocy is complete. Could always arrange for a regular supply of grass while having your hair or beard done but I ‘m almost certain the Council will not not licence that, I think
Grant the licence but they close at 8 pm.