A small distillery has been granted a licence variation, allowing it to stay open later, but said that it had had to stop holding tours and was now looking for new premises.
Madame Jennifer Distillery, in Montgomery Street, Hove, can now open until 10pm on Fridays and Saturdays and until 9.30pm on Sundays, after a licensing panel hearing.
The business, owned by Inger Smith, 52, and Ian Curtis, 51, faced objections from neighbours who were worried about the potential for noise as people came and went and the prospect of more traffic.
Brighton and Hove City Council held a licensing panel on Friday 20 March when Ms Smith offered to limit the number of tours and tastings at the business which is based at a unit in Poets Corner House.
But since the drinks licence variation was granted, Ms Smith said that the tours have had to stop.
She said: “We’re very pleased that the licensing panel has approved our application and recognised that our tours have been well run, with no evidence of disturbance or complaints.
“However, following discussions with our landlord, we are no longer able to continue distillery tours or tasting events at our current premises.
“We want to thank all our customers who have joined us over the years. Sharing the science behind distilling, craft gin and our products has been a hugely enjoyable part of what we do.
“We are now actively seeking a new location to restart our tours and continue offering this experience to our customers.”
The change in licence will allow flexibility for people who buy gin directly from the business.
The council’s decision said: “The panel consider that the application is a modest one and not likely to lead to any increase in noise or disturbance to residents.
“The events had clearly been managed well thus far as there had been no complaints or disturbance experienced.”
That’s confusing. The Council say they wanted to increase the license to showcase other local Gins. Yet the owners say they suggested decreasing them. There were lots of named complaints as far as I remember, so I’m not sure why she’s saying there weren’t. Oh well, good luck them, I’m sure they’ll find something more suitable in a non residential area.
Both she, the licensing panel, and the police liaison stated there has been no history of complaints. It might very well be a nice way of saying that the objections posted on the application were not well-founded? That area also appears to have several central commercial units, surrounded by some residential houses, looking at overhead images.
Either way, they appear to have a strong business, so I’m sure they’ll continue to do well in a new location.