A new bar in the centre of Brighton has been granted a drinks licence after councillors decided that its customers would be unlikely to add to crime and disorder in the area.
Harvey Siney, 33, from Hove, applied 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 on Wednesday 25 March, he told the panel of three councillors – John Hewitt, Sam Parrott and Alison Thomson – he wanted to offer craft beers and guest kitchens.
At the time, Mr Siney was in the process of working with an established restaurant business to provide food to customers ordering from their tables.
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.
Mr Siney had support from the site landlord John Briggs who said that previous food-led businesses at the site had failed.
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.”
Sussex Police had suggested that Mr Siney choose a different location because Dyke Road was close to West Street, North Street and Queen’s Road, areas that it said were a focal point for crime.
Draft licence conditions, agreed before the hearing, included requirements that customers should be seated when drinking, menus should be on display and food available to order from noon to 8.30pm, and for no strong beer or cider to be sold other than specialist craft beers.
The council’s decision letter said: “The panel was impressed by the presentation by the applicant and the effort he had made to liaise effectively with the police even though they still objected to the application.
“The panel considers that what is being proposed, a small specialist and premium craft beer venue where customers are seated and food is available for most of the time, is not likely to add to problems in the area.
“The clientèle is likely to be local and more mature. There will be no off-sales. It will not be akin to a wet-led bar and is intended to add to the diversity of licensed premises.”
They seem to grant licenses no matter how many concerns they receive.
Wonder if this is the same Harvey Siney who was jailed for 12 months some years back after a football match related ‘brawl’? Might not be, but wonder if it may explain police objection?
Shocking that they would give a licence to a place that is in the centre of town right by other places that already have licences. I clutch my pearls at the thought. Imagine people visiting a town centre and having not only having a place to enjoy themselves, but more than one!
Doesn’t seem to be in a special restricted area, and it’s been noted a few times in other articles on licensing that the applicant’s attitude and willingness to engage with the process and address reservations really does seem to help lean towards a successful application.
An 11pm closure isn’t going to add to the cumulative impact. The biggest impact is from venues closing later and at the same time.
It’s basically on a side street not on a main road. Unlikley to attract much passing trade – you’re going to have to know it is there.