Bristol retailer Kamaljeet Singh set to open sixth shop

Councillors have granted an alcohol sales licence to a new mini supermarket in Fishponds despite opposition from rival traders.

11 Eleven Convenience Store and Off-licence, at the former Artistic Blinds premises in Staple Hill Road, was granted permission to open and sell booze from 7am to 11pm daily.

Bristol City Council licensing sub-committee was told the dozen objections were not relevant because they related to commercial competition and matters which were not substantiated by the police or other authorities, who were satisfied with the application.

It will be the sixth shop in Bristol opened by Kamaljeet Singh, who runs the chain with his wife, the City Hall hearing on Thursday, October 7, was told.

His licensing agent Jim Leahy told the panel it was a straightforward application for a “perfectly normal” convenience store and opening hours.

“The objectives are of a commercial nature but this is business,” he said. “There are no objections from any of the responsible authorities.”

Sub-committee chairman Cllr Richard Eddy said: “I would measure the seriousness of the relevant persons’ submissions by looking at the police response, and the fact they haven’t opposed this application and seem content with the proposed conditions suggests they’re relatively relaxed.

“From reading the relevant persons’ statements there is some element of what I would categorise as concerns about commercial rivalry, and that isn’t an issue for members of this panel to consider.”

Granting the licence for alcohol sales off-premises, he said Singh was an experienced licence holder with an “impressive, unblemished track record”.