A new Brighton restaurant and wine bar faces opposition in its bid for an alcohol licence from neighbours worried about “obnoxious guests”.
Hall and Wise Limited wants to sell alcohol both on and off the premises from 10am to 11pm from its new venue The Wineyard at 120 St George’s Road.
In the application to Brighton and Hove City Council, the business is described as a “licensed restaurant, wine bar and wine shop”.
The restaurant and bar area has space for about 150 people across two floors and the back garden.
Two objections from neighbours means the application will go before a panel of three councillors to make the decision following a virtual hearing on Wednesday 17 December.
Sussex Police has agreed draft conditions with the owners of the business, Timothy Hall, 54, and Marc Wise, 51.
Draft conditions include no standing and drinking inside the venue, with customers served by waiting staff. During busy periods, customers may order from the bar and return to their tables.
Customers would be allowed to stand and drink in the garden, but tables and chairs would be installed to encourage people to sit.
Substantial food must be available at all times, with menus clearly displayed and including hot food.
Off-sales would be limited to wine produced by independent vintners and sold in sealed containers.
Both neighbours objecting to the application raise concerns about other venues in the area generating noise, loud music and “obnoxious guests”.
The objector referred to as Rep A, whose details are redacted in the hearing papers, said: “I am worried that, in case the licensing went ahead, I would be surrounded on every side by drunk people shouting late into the evening.
“This area has already an issue with drunken disorder that frequently requires the police to intervene right outside.”
The other objector, referred to as Rep B, whose details are also removed, said: “Please, for the sake of our sanity, do not grant a license to 120 St George’s Street.
“The noise pollution we experience at home is already intolerable, and granting this license would mean we lose the only room, and the one where we sleep, where we are not deafened by noise.”
The site has a history of operating as a bar and restaurant.
It was most recently Arcobaleno, and previously The Old Bank Steak and Ribs, and before that La Fourchette.
The virtual licensing panel hearing is due to start at 10am on Wednesday 18 December and is scheduled for webcast.
Another booze palace, what a surprise,
Yeah everyone should only be allowed to drink tap water in a restaurant.
You have to feel sorry for anyone trying to run a restaurant or bar in this city.
Even those living in the nosiest and busiest parts of town endlessly moan and are then shocked when their neighbourhood pub gets turned into yet more flats.
There’s been a restaurant at this location for years. If you don’t like it, move.
I don’t see why anyone should feel sorry for any of the large number of booze outlets, I believe that if booze was restricted to sensible outlets, bars, etc and cut off the multitude of kiosks, shops even a post office there would still be more than enough booze available to drown a large part of the local population. That said I’m not against booze I just don’t see why the need for so many outlets for it, looks like alkys are catered for but not the general population.
Yes, how dare anyone try and run a bar or restaurant in the city.
Obviously the council should take control and only allow alcohol sales between 3-4pm on Wednesdays. Bar and restaurant staff will be sent for reeducation.
The fact that this site has had a restaurant on it for 20 years is relevant.
Clearly anyone wanting to go out for dinner should be ashamed and is clearly “obnoxious”.
That’s clearly not what Stan said, you undermine yourself with that one.
I agree pubs and eaterys are nice when busy full of people, but they’re not, the cheap booze outlets are a big part of the problem leaving price increases on the remaining pub customers, brewery companies pre own all the profits via booze and premises ownerships, again leaving the remaining pub customers with price increases, limit the number of booze outlets in line with area population numbers not just any amount of outlets anywhere, garages, post offices should be off limits to booze even if they have a connected shop. How many times can you sell booze to the same part of the drinking population ??? and people still want a local pub that functions with decent prices, me too.
Excellent comment
Did this used to be Barclays Bank with the convent & nursing home next door? Perhaps some would like that to return. Personally, times move and as it has been a restaurant for a number of years, I don’t foresee any major changes or issues.
Been a restaurant for at least 20 years. If you haven’t noticed this then complaining seems redundant. Usual nimbysm to be found in Kemptown.