The Isle of Wight Council has given a popular East Cowes cafe the green light to sell alcohol.
Owners of Betty’s Door, on Clarence Road, had faced resistance from a small band of neighbours who thought allowing the cafe to serve alcohol would lead to an increase in noise and nuisance.
It was determined by the Isle of Wight Council this week that the cafe would be able to serve alcohol every day from 11:00-16:00 — with extended hours until 20:30 on Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve and during Cowes Week.
Speaking at the hearing, Aiden Jones, the co-owner, said it was not a place for mass drinking and they only wished to add small quantities of alcohol to the menu to offer a finer experience for loyal and visiting customers. It would also allow the cafe to maximise its income during the tough time the hospitality industry was facing, he said, focusing on providing afternoon tea.
Mr Jones said they were not a pub nor a club so did not allow loud music but there were many other establishments in close proximity that hold existing alcohol licences until much later hours, so it was highly unfair to single out their cafe.
Among objectors was East Cowes Town Council, which said it had received concerns from residents so could not support it and had issues with the late-night openings proposed.
Another written objection said children may hear foul language, breathe in smoke and witness disorderly conduct from those standing outside and the building is not sufficiently soundproofed.
Environmental health officers raised no objection to the application and said the licence was unlikely to result in any unreasonable disturbance to neighbours during the times proposed.
The committee approved the application but added 2 conditions which means alcohol cannot be taken outside and is only allowed to be served with food.
The committee highlighted if residents had concerns they should raise them with the authority.
Other conditions have been agreed with police including staff training; log books; ID checks; no alcohol would be served to someone deemed to be intoxicated and a Challenge 25 policy would operate.
Fantastic! A win for common sense over the NIMBYs.
Hopefully it will be OK, but you can understand locals being wary… they have enough disturbance to put up with from noisy late-night revelers from the nearby club. I don’t suppose anyone can do anything about that.
Why would the east cowes so called town council object, they have no reason to object,if locals wish to object write to the proper planning committee, just another reason to do away with these costly levels of bureacuracy that achieve nothing but cost a great deal of money
Common sense prevails. It’s bizzare that even though most of us are feeling pressured financially, a few idiots in East Cowes try to spoil someone’s business when all they are doing is trying to get by. I hardly think that hoards of drunken customers will be causing havoc at lunchtime because they had a glass of wine with their meal. This could only happen in East Cowes, the islands very own Royston Vasey.
More drunken vandals, and vehicle drivers to add to the swelling numbers.
I’d say café is not a typical place for vandals. Not to say it’s the case here but pubs come to mind more quickly, and they’re allowed close by just fine.
Re vehicles, we ought to support more cycleways, pedestrianised spaces, cities for people, don’t induce car demand with parking spaces on the streets etc. – but residents are often against that. Good to see more people fed up with vehicles though 🙂
Oh get real will you, this is hardly Talk of the South night club is it.
Should look at the number of drink drivers getting off the ferries after drinking on them! At least here, LOCAL people can have a quiet drink and WALK home! What a dumb thing to say Mrs. Karen Taylor!
Good. It’s the nimby’s that hold this island back and make it so much harder for small businesses over here.
Late night drinking 8-30pm ?, Children might hear swearing?. Children usually the ones who are swearing nowadays . What nimby’s don’t get is if nothing ,then East Cowes will be no more,no Waitrose,no shops- most already closed and turned into flats. As for any Town and Parish Councils,most are corrupt self filling and costly. We have a parish council ,never had info from them,never invited to public meetings- if they even have – they work in complete isolation to community surprised to serve.