Hove Museum has been granted an extension to its drinks licence to include an outside area and push the end time back to 11pm.
Neighbours objected to the application by the Royal Pavilion and Museums Trust proposals for the museum in New Church Road.
They said that they were worried about noise and anti-social behaviour.
The previous licence restricted late-night alcohol sales until 11pm up to 24 times a year.
As well as removing the late-night event restriction, the trust wants to extend café alcohol sales to an outside area next to Pembroke Crescent by the Jaipur Gate from 10am to 6pm.
At a hearing on Monday 8 September, neighbours shared their surprise that the museum had held a drinks licence since 2013 and without incident.
But Pembroke Crescent resident Julia Hamblin feared that the museum could become a noisy bar.
Another Pembroke Crescent resident, Martin Davis, raised concerns about weddings at the museum – as the café operator described its venues as “perfect for hosting small and intimate weddings and parties”.
Royal Pavilion and Museums Trust visitor experience manager Shaun Doyle said that there were no plans to operate as a bar, introduce weddings at the museum or have performances of plays or music outdoors.
Mr Doyle said that the café was only open when the museum was open, from 10am to 5pm from Thursday to Monday and closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
The trust was considering extending opening hours to 6pm which was reflected in the application.
The panel of three councillors – Ivan Lyons, David McGregor and Ollie Sykes – said that they understood that neighbours’ concerns were genuine but they were unfounded.
A decision letter from the council said: “The applicant was clear that the café would not operate like a bar and conditions agreed reinforced this.
“It was likely to close at 5pm most evenings when the museum closed.
“The panel believed the applicant when he stated he was not looking to change the business model and believe he should be given a chance to operate sensibly as he proposed.”
Customers drinking alcohol outside must be sitting at tables.
Benji will be fuming over this article ?
Hope he’s ok
Thank you for your ongoing concern and thoughts about me, Rupert. I’m not particularly emotional about this result. I didn’t think a museum needed an alcohol license, and I’m worried that it appears you can buy alcohol from schools, museums, gyms, takeaways, coffee shops, parks, and everywhere else that has a storefront, particularly from a public health point of view.
But those aren’t valid objections when it comes to licensing.