Another Brighton co-working space is bidding for a licence to sell alcohol in the office in the face of opposition from police and council licensing officers.
The Projects in Ship Street wants to open a small bar from 4pm to 10pm Thursdays and Fridays, with the option of also opening as an evening event space.
However, as it is within the city’s cumulative impact zone (CIZ), where anyone wanting a new licence must demonstrate it won’t increase crime and antisocial behaviour, both police and licensing officers have objected.
In September the Regus Spaces co-working offices, also within the CIZ in Mocatta House, Trafalgar Place, secured a restricted licence in September, limiting when alcohol was available, limiting the number of events a year and banning vertical drinking.
The previous year, Platf9rm in North Road’s application for an alcohol licence was refused after the applicants didn’t turn up to the meeting. Meanwhile, The Werks in Middle Street has this month applied for a new alcohol and events licence.
The Project officially opened between Hotel Du Vin and The Walrus pub on November 22, and lets people working freelance or in small businesses rent desks or offices on a short-term basis.
It currently promotes its sitting room and bar stocked with wines and spirits as part of its offer to members on its website.
Licensing times would be 6pm to 10pm Monday to Wednesday and 4pm to 10pm Thursday to Sunday.
In its application to Brighton and Hove City Council, The Projects states its members will enter using an electronic fob, which means they can be tracked.
The application said: “We are a members-only space so all of the people within the building will be over 18.
“We will also have a maximum of 200 members who we will know personally so don’t foresee any chance of public nuisance or crime.”
In its objection Sussex Police was concerned about visitors and guests at events planned for the bar.
Licensing and response Inspector Di Lewis said: “The applicant is essentially opening a new bar in the CIZ that may be open to the general public where alcohol will not be ancillary to any food or other use of the premises.
“There are no conditions offered to limit vertical drinking and the space is referred to as a ‘small bar operation’. Limited details are provided around security and whether staff will be on duty when the event space is rented out.”
Vertical drinking means people do not have to sit at a table to drink.
Brighton and Hove City Council licensing department has also opposed the application as it is against licensing policy.
Its response said: “The special policy for cumulative impact states that applications for new premises licences that may add to the existing cumulative impact will be refused following relevant representations.
“This presumption of refusal can be rebutted by the applicant if they can show that their application will have no negative cumulative impact on licensing objectives including prevention of crime and disorder and public nuisance.”
The CIZ covers the city centre from Holland Road to Upper Rock Gardens, bounded by Western Road and Eastern Road to the north.
It also follows the line of Queen’s Road up to the railway station, taking in the North Laine as far west as York Place and Grand Parade.
The zone is designed to make sure new licensed premises do not add to the impact of the hundreds of pubs, clubs, bars and off licences in the area on levels of crime, disorder and nuisance.
Brighton and Hove City Council licensing panel meets to discuss the application at Hove Town Hall from 10am on Friday 21 December.
