Alcohol licence restricted for Bristol’s new shop

Residents’ fears of gangs of drunken youths have thwarted a new shop’s bid to sell booze beyond 8am to 10pm.

Councillors granted a premises licence for a general store at 155 Crow Lane, formerly Martin’s newsagents, but reduced the times alcohol can be sold.

About 20 neighbours and Henbury & Bentry ward Conservative Cllrs Mark Weston and Chris Windows objected to the application by Dar Trading Services Ltd for sales of liquor from 7am to 11pm seven days a week.

The company agreed at the Bristol City Council licensing sub-committee hearing, held online, to limit the display of booze to 20 per cent of the floor space amid concerns the general store would become an unwelcome off-licence.

Members heard that nearby shops, including Aldi, Co-op, Iceland and Bargain Beers, which is two doors along the parade, stopped selling booze before 10pm to ensure “drink-fuelled” problems were not exacerbated after The Old Crow pub’s 11pm closing time.

Dar Trading Services solicitor Jeremy Woodcraft told the meeting on Thursday, April 23, that many of the objections were based on “unfounded concerns and misinformation that may have been put out by a vested interest that would be adversely affected by a business such as this”.

He said the premises had been referred to incorrectly as a “delicatessen with booze” and a “straight off-licence”.

“One person refers to ‘Not the type of business we want in this area’ without being in any way specific about what type of business this is,” said Mr Woodcraft.

“These people have raised representations but they haven’t fully understood the nature of what these premises were going to be.

“There are no representations from the police or environmental health who are the experts in crime, nuisance and disorder, so they clearly do not feel there will be a problem.”

Mr Woodcraft said the “ugly, nearly derelict” premises had been empty for years and that the new owners were investing £60,000 on renovations.

He said: “These premises will be a general convenience store. Alcohol will be a small but absolutely fundamental part of their offering.

“It is very important that if people are going to use a general store and want a bottle of wine or a can of beer with whatever other produce they want, they have the ability to buy that, otherwise they simply would not use the store.

“In the current circumstances, anybody who is willing to invest money in what is going to be a very hard financial time should be given every opportunity and encouragement to succeed.”

Charlotte Bailey-Hooper, who runs a charity shop in Crow Lane, told the panel: “Residents, especially the elderly who live in the bungalows across the road, are worried that from 7am until 11pm there will be large gangs of youths around.

“It is the concern that people will be able to buy alcohol at such an early time in the morning and at such a late time.

“Aldi and Bargain Beers close at 10pm and you can buy alcohol in Iceland and the Co-op until 8pm, so everything coincides before The Old Crow pub closes its doors and it is quite peaceful for residents.”

Cllr Weston told the meeting: “There is a real concern from residents about the preponderance of alcohol establishments along Crow Lane.

“We have a somewhat spicy neighbourhood sometimes. We have antisocial behavior and some of that is drink-fuelled.

“There are real concerns about selling alcohol so early and so late. The number of cans you find by the benches in the morning is quite surprising.”

After hearing the concerns, Mr Woodcraft said his client would be happy to sell alcohol in line with the hours of neighbouring shops.

Cllr Weston said he took a “modicum of comfort from that”.

“It is welcome, it’s not everything I wanted but I thank the client for at least listening to our concerns and taking them on board.”

Announcing the sub-committee’s decision, chairwoman Cllr Eleanor Combley said the store could open from 7am to 11pm but sell alcohol only between 8am and 10pm, beyond which the booze must be covered, and that it could be displayed up to 20 per cent of the shop including spirits behind the counter.

“We are of the view that these conditions will prevent the store from becoming an off-licence or Bargain Booze-style operation and also address the concerns of local residents,” she said.