Eastville store secures licence extension to sell alcohol for longer hours

A convenience store in Eastville was granted longer hours to sell booze despite police concerns it would fuel incidents involving alcoholic sex workers in the area.

Global Food Mart in Fishponds Road now has a licence to stay open and sell alcohol until 2.30am on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

But it must close at 11pm every day unless Bristol City Council also agrees to change the opening hours on its planning consent.

Boby Varghese, who runs Global Food Mart, has been opening the store until 12.30am every day in breach of that consent, a licensing committee heard.

Varghese originally applied to extend the opening hours and hours for the sale of alcohol until 2.30am, but limited the application to the weekends after police objected.

Louise Mowbray from Avon and Somerset Police told the committee the area was “highly problematic” for local officers with a clear link between alcohol supply and crime and disorder.

She said officers were particularly concerned about issues related to local sex workers, one of whom stood accused of alleged assault after an incident outside the shop in September.

“Some of the sex workers are alcoholics and frequent the local convenience stores regularly,” she said.

“The community’s already serviced by a 24-hour convenience store in Fishponds Road which is in near proximity, so there is little justification, need or requirement to extend the hours requested.”

Newsagent Bus Stop News lies a short walk from Global Food Mart and has a 24/7 licence to sell alcohol, the committee heard.

But Peter Rosser, representing Global Food Mart, argued that Global stocked a wider range of grocery items and needed to open later to satisfy a growing demand, partly driven by shift workers returning from central Bristol via a relatively new bus route.

Rosser said: “By denying the opportunity for Global to remain open for their customers after 12.30am, Thursday to Saturday, this would effectively be endorsing the monopoly position of Bus Stop News and denying choice to local residents.

“Please bear in mind that alcohol is available 24/7 just 50 yards away so this is not a case of making alcohol available where there was none before.

“Global News will provide an alternative place to shop for residents with a wider range of groceries including fresh foods in a more spacious, well lit and well run premises.”

Rosser’s comments were echoed by resident Adrian Talasman, who lives in a flat above Global Food Mart and spoke in support of the application.

Three members of the public made written objections to the application. One was made anonymously and one came from the Bus Stop News licensee.

The committee granted the new licensing hours unanimously, with the proviso that the store would not open past 11pm unless its planning application for later opening hours was approved.

The store has 24 CCTV cameras and two staff on past 6pm every night, the meeting heard.

The meeting took place virtually on December 3, 2019.