Police told owner his bar would be too close to focal point for crime

Sussex Police advised an aspiring bar owner to seek another site when they objected to his application for a drinks licence in the centre of Brighton.

Harvey Siney, 33, from Hove, wants to open Cosies, at 10 Dyke Road, Brighton, from 2pm to 11pm from Tuesday to Friday and from noon to 11pm at weekends.

At a Brighton and Hove City Council licensing panel hearing today (Wednesday 25 March), police licensing officer Mark Thorogood said that the business location, close to West Street, North Street and Queen’s Road, was the main issue because it was a focal point for crime.

In the year to February, there were 209 violent crimes, 129 public order offences, 38 robberies, 36 drug offences and 20 sexual assaults within 200 metres of the venue.

Mr Thorogood said: “Our representation is not focused on the applicant themselves. This is purely based on the location being 40 metres away from Queen’s Road, North Street and West Street – our main night-time economy area.

“Although closing at 11pm, this could feed into these areas, impacting further the crime data provided. It’s hard to condition a licence based on someone’s vision.”

Sussex Police would support a café-style business where hot food was available at all times, with a functioning kitchen.

Mr Siney said that he wanted to offer craft beers and guest kitchens at Cosies and was in the process of working with an established restaurant business to provide food to customers ordering from their tables.

Before the hearing, Mr Siney worked with environmental health officials and Sussex Police to agree draft licence conditions to apply if the panel approved his application.

And at the hearing, Mr Siney said that he would accept a 10pm closing time.

He said: “We want to provide a community-led, inclusive, intimate place for the people of Brighton to explore beverages they’ve never had before alongside a tasty bit of food and a catch up with mates.

“We’re committed to acting as responsible role models within the community.”

Before the hearing, Mr Siney withdrew his application for an off-sales licence which led the council to withdraw its objection to the application.

The property is next to the old Pizza Hut branch and the owner of 10 Dyke Road, John Briggs, spoke in support of Mr Siney’s application.

Mr Briggs told the panel of three councillors – John Hewitt, Sam Parrott and Alison Thomson – that the previous food-led outlet had not worked out at the site.

Speaking about the proposed 11pm closing time, Mr Briggs said: “Cosies is not interested in the high-intensity late-night economy and is instead prioritising the residential amenity of the area.

“This deliberate choice (aims) to attract a more mature local demographic of customers and dispersal well before the peak hotspot hours when the majority of alcohol-related crime and disorder and public nuisance occurs.”

The panel retired to make its decision which should be made public within five working days.