Oyster bar celebrates 20 years in Brighton with seafront event

UPDATE High winds have been forecast so the event has been postponed, provisionally until next month.

Restaurant business Riddle and Finns has been granted permission to serve oysters and champagne on the prom over Easter.

The company plans to set up a temporary oyster bar to celebrate its 20th anniversary in Brighton, with a gazebo next to its Shelter Hall premises, in King’s Road.

Sussex Police objected to the temporary event notice (TEN) that would allow Riddle and Finns to serve alcohol from noon to 8pm from Friday 3 April to Monday 6 April.

Force licensing officer Mark Thorogood said that the bank holiday weekend was a busy time for the emergency services and it was not clear why the business was extending its operating area to offer takeaway food and drink.

He told a Brighton and Hove City Council licensing panel that Sussex Police did support businesses using TENs for events such as private hire, celebrations or national occasions.

Last year, 1,150 TENs were served on the council without any objection from Sussex Police.

Mr Thorogood told the licensing panel hearing: “Regarding this TEN, the concern we have is the permitting of off-sales of alcohol which, due to its location, is highly likely to be consumed on the beach.

“When considering the off-sales elements, there is limited control the licence holder can have once drinks have left the premises.”

He said that there were risks around sexual assaults and “proxy sales” to under-18s as well as to people who might already be intoxicated.

And he added: “Mixing alcohol consumption with the sea is something we are unable to promote.”

Riddle and Finns director Rob Shenton, 54, said that the gazebo would be set up within the business boundaries, selling oysters, champagne and sparkling wine only.

He said: “We want to try to engage with people in Brighton that we can stop outside (who) we don’t always have time to talk to – and it’s 20 years of being in Brighton.”

Mr Shenton, who attended the licensing panel hearing last Wednesday (25 March) with his co-director Adam Brian, said that they hoped to have more events during their anniversary.

He added: “We only want to offer champagne. It’s not that we want to offer hard spirits or beers or draft or things like that.

“It’s quite a higher ticket item as well so that would put quite a lot of people off, especially the younger generation.”

Mr Shenton said that the gazebo would be in place for one day only and finish sales at 6pm. The longer hours and days were to avoid bad weather.

The council’s decision letter said: “The panel consider that the limited and expensive alcohol for sale with food and mostly during the day was not likely to contribute to the problems in the area and on the beach.

“The premises users were longstanding and responsible operators.

“It was unlikely to create a precedent and, although not perhaps an event as such, it was a marketing opportunity and celebration of their longevity, besides which the Licensing Act 2003 does not require a specified event.”