By Jason Lewis, Local Democracy Reporter

Woodmill Coffee Kitchen's bid to sell alcohol has been given the green light despite concerns from residents.

 

 

The venue can now sell alcohol from 9am to 6pm Monday to Thursday and from 8am to 8pm on Friday to Sunday.

Managing director Tony Jones had initially sought a licence until 10pm but scaled back the proposed hours following unease from residents.

He said the café beside the River Itchen would remain a food-led venue, with alcohol intended to complement the hospitality offer.

Mr Jones said: “I have checked our planning and we are able to open late, so really we’re looking for a licence to complement that late night opening because we believe the food offering would be more attractive if a burger or a slice of pizza was enjoyed with a glass of wine or a beer.”

No objections were received from the police or the council’s licensing, planning and environmental health teams.

As previously reported, the council received 13 resident representations in support and eight objections. Three objections were later withdrawn.

Robert and Hannah Tuck raised concerns about the environment, increased traffic, pressure on parking and their family’s privacy in their own garden.

Mr Tuck said the site was in a conservation area and councillors should consider the impact the plans would have from an environmental perspective, referencing additional lighting in the winter months, as well as more noise and rubbish.

The couple said they were fully in support of the business as a “thriving café” but were struggling to see why the venue needed to sell alcohol.

Mrs Tuck said: “Woodmill in its current guise is very low key.

“It’s a chilled space that families attend. Paddleboarders, people enjoying the water and seeing the sea and all that kind of stuff.

“I’m struggling with understanding the concept of why people need to be drinking alcohol in that area.

“It’s not to be a fun sponge but I find that Woodmill Activity Centre has been operating successfully, as he (Mr Jones) rightly said, for many years with bustling activity and no need for an alcohol licence in that area.”

She said a café closing at 4pm was very different to a venue that can sell alcohol operating until 8pm.

Resident Kane Stoker said he understood what the applicant was trying to achieve but the licence would change the dynamic of the café.

Mr Stoker said: “Unless you’re going to put bouncers on there controlling it, it’s no guarantee that you will not get a load of trouble later on.”

Rachael Clark, a customer of the café who runs art workshops in the upper part of the Woodmill building, said it was a difficult time for hospitality businesses.

  View of the river and mill building at Woodmill

She said: “Woodmill needs our support and I think they’ve shown they support the community and certainly have helped local smaller businesses where they can as well.

“I think it’s on us if we want to keep it there, then we should be supporting them.”

Responding to objectors, Mr Jones said he respected everyone’s viewpoint but he felt there were a number of assumptions being made on who the café was trying to attract.

He said: “We’re not a student late night venue.

“We’re very much after a charcuterie of an evening and a glass of wine over the river.”

Mr Jones said he had no interest in hosting events at the café.

Gordon Cooper, licensing sub-committee chairman, said councillors understood the concerns of residents, but members had to base their decision on evidence.

Cllr Cooper said: “Whilst issues regarding planning, privacy and traffic had been raised, these are not matters that the sub-committee was able to take into account.”

The sub-committee granted the licence for alcohol to be consumed on the premises at a hearing on Wednesday, August 12.