A hairdresser’s application for a drinks licence so that he can start a wine club offering a glass with a haircut – and to take away – faces objections.
Jonathan Harries, 56, has applied for an alcohol licence for Shine, in Gloucester Road, Brighton, from 10am to 8pm Monday to Saturday, the same times as his salon’s opening hours.
Green councillor Sue Shanks, who represents West Hill and North Laine on Brighton and Hove City Council, Sussex Police and the council’s licensing team have all objected.
As a result, the application is due to go before a licensing panel hearing next Tuesday (2 December).
The North Laine is in an area designated as a “cumulative impact zone” where the presumption is against new “off-licences” because of high crime levels – unless the business can show exceptional circumstances.
Councillor Shanks said: “This area of town already has many off-licences … It is possible this will add to the public nuisance in the area so I am objecting on these grounds.”
Inspector Ben Morrison, from Sussex Police, said that in the past year, to the end of October, there were 280 crimes linked to Gloucester Road.
The highest number, 93, involved violence. There were 74 thefts, 32 public order offences and 10 sexual offences – and dozens of reports of anti-social behaviour.
More than half, 149, occurred between 11am and 8pm, varying across every day of the week.
Inspector Morrison said that the applicant had proposed draft licence conditions to prevent crime, such as CCTV, but the proposals fell short of the current city-wide standard.
He said: “Sussex Police additionally contend that the carrying on of additional licensable activity and therefore the greater availability of alcohol in this area could add to the existing issues in this area.”
The council objected to the application because it would breach the council licensing policy.
Mr Harries said in his application that the business had operated for 18 years and would offer “exclusive wines” by the glass, with clients offered the opportunity to buy a bottle to take home.
He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “I just want to be able to retail wine – and only wine – that you can’t buy in a supermarket. Everything would come through a specialist importer.
“The council seems totally fine with the on-sales but they’re not keen on the off-sales because of the area and the worry that it might add to local crime.
“I’ve suggested that I only sell wine to members of a wine club that Shine would run – no random walk-ins, just proper clients.”
Mr Harries said that he had no plans to promote or advertise alcohol sales outside the existing business and would not offer any alcohol other than wine at about £13 a bottle.
The licensing panel hearing is due to start at 10am next Tuesday (2 December). The online hearing is scheduled to be webcast.
Can’t people even have their hair done without needing alcohol?
We can now go see some art with an appetiser, our hair done at a salon with a spirit, send off a letter with a larger at the post office, then finish off at a pub with a pint!
Sounds like a decent day out, although being baldy I might give the hair salon a miss.
Your local council has social experts who can help you, dementia charities can help, plenty of other well meaning helpful people around including contributors on here, anger issues can be helped by counselling, not sure what you have but I am sure you need help.
Let him have the booze licence, they already gave one to a Post Office.
Blue Nun to go with your blue rinse ma’am?
Yes please. I’m a regular customer and I say yes, yes, yes to a glass of vino while getting my hair done.